A star designer in the making

Standing about 4’ 8", she is a tiny young lady. As she flashed her big smile and politely tucked herself into her seat, I knew she wasn’t the type to carry her talent on her shoulders like a fashion accessory. But there is no doubt that there is a lot of talent lurking beneath that small frame.

Her name is Cristina Imelda Victoria Reyes Feraren, but she goes by the name "Twinkle," which is also the name of her fashion line. You can tell, not only by her name, that she is unique. There are small details in her outfit that set her apart. For example, the large, blue evil-eye glass pendant hanging around her neck is tied with a string of leather. It reminded me of the blue evil eye I bought, which I have been using as a paperweight. I think Twinkle has found much better use for it.

It is not only her outfit that sets her apart, but also her story. Twinkle is 22 years old and has been designing clothes for seven years, when she designed her graduation ball gown. It began even earlier than that. When she was just one year old, she loved to draw and doodle. When she was 15, she took those doodles a step further and used them to design accessories, such as bandanas, candles and notebooks, which she would sell in bazaars. Her designs all sold like hotcakes, since they were unique and colorful.

When she was18, she sold her first fashion item at her mother’s annual bazaar: a beaded belt. Having been a hit among her friends and classmates in Assumption, it was the first of many beaded items to come, as Twinkle now loves to use beads in all her designs, including skirts, pants, tops, and accessories.

Twinkle was so serious about her passion for designing that she completed an internship with Dita Sandico Ong, who, Twinkle explains, was her mentor. Ong saw in young Twinkle a person with fresh new ideas that were edgy.

Indeed, Twinkle has a unique twist to her clothes. Many are laced with artistic and rather sporadic geometrical designs that create a very colorful eclectic feel to them. She also uses artistic techniques such as patterns and layering to create funky yet sophisticated pieces.

Twinkle compares her craft to other arts such as painting. As she explained, she "puts a lot of creative thought into the patterns, colors, layers of materials, and mixed media that combine to create artistic, appealing pieces that are vibrant, fun, and distinct."

Patterns are an important element in her designs – such as zigzag lines, circles and squares, which give her pieces a very intricate look, complementing the flowing materials of her apparel and the dangling quality of her accessories. On one hand, the geometric patterns create a systematic blending of colors, and on the other, the intricacy and movement in her layered material and the way she blends the two together create a balanced quality that reflects the perfect organic symmetry of nature.

When I asked her if she goes to a lot of fashion shows, she said that she used to when she was fresh out of school as a young budding designer, but now that she’s been to a bunch of shows, she prefers not to attend them. She explained that shows are high-pressure, which creates anxieties for designers as they feel their art is being measured against other artists. She conceded that rather than fashion shows, she much prefers to be far away from city life, in the midst of nature, from where her creativity springs. The movement, colors, and patterns in nature inspire designs and images in her imagination, which she then tries to recreate in her clothing.

Twinkle is interested at present in native designs, inspired by Filipino tribes. She gets a lot of her ideas from the designs and the material which tribal people use, which is quite evident in her swimwear line. Her bikinis are elegant yet fun, using patterns of squares, circles and beads made out of distinctly Filipino materials such as piña weaves, Muslim cloth, T’boli bells, lots of local stones and shells mixed with satins, chiffons, and native weaves. Some of her pieces are rather conventional on the front. This makes it even more surprising to see the intricate designs on the back of the bikinis, which are strikingly interesting and artsy.

The sporadic shapes that are splattered across her clothing give the pieces Twinkle’s distinct touch, and at the same time create a somewhat outspoken, unconventional, eclectic look. It is not surprising that when I asked her who she’d like to dress up, she said Lizzie Jagger, who likes to mix and match clothing in an unconventional way, and layer clothes in a way which creates a laid-back, free-flowing, yet sophisticated look.

A Star-Studded Resume

And that’s why it’s no surprise that both local and international labels alike have taken an interest in Twinkle. Among these are Ishk, Souk, and Firma, for which Twinkle has supplied her ultra-unique and saleable accessories. Twinkle is also a creative director/assistant and stylist for Greenbelt Shopping Plaza. She also designs promotional materials including shopping bags, banners, and logos, as well as assists in planning and organizing events and fashions shows, such as "Ethnicity in the City" and the "Let’s Get eleMENTAL!!!" fashion show.

To add to these accomplishments, Twinkle’s designs were also included in the Miss Hawaiian Tropical shoot where international models showcased her bathing suits and bikinis on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. Her swimwear line was chosen for its elegance, sophistication and playfulness. Each piece features an intricate and distinct cut, which would make any woman look like a goddess. She also likes using sheer materials, made out of piña weave. This material drapes across the body lightly, which makes the woman look sensual, exotic, and sophisticated. She likes using colors that stand out beautifully on tanned skin, such as deep oranges, reds, pinks as well as bright blue, green, and purple.

Twinkle is not only an entrepreneur, but also an inspiration to many young, aspiring designers. She was a guest speaker for Assumption’s Art Club for Jewelry Making, Assumption College’s KKK (Kakaibang Klase) and a Resource Speaker for accessory making for De La Salle University’s LEAP (Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program).

Twinkle’s fashion designs are indeed one of a kind: They are not created merely to be accepted into the world of fashion do’s and don’ts, but are timeless pieces that transcend fashion clichés. She is an artist, and makes her pieces according to an artist’s values and integrity.