One of the most welcoming developments during the past decade is the rise of reputable fashion schools in the country. Among such academies is the SoFA or the School for Fashion and the Arts in Makati.
SoFA instructor Jan Garcia put three of his most promising students (already budding entrepreneurs) to the task of bringing their sketches to life. Uptown/Downtown interviewed Kaye Morales, Noelle Llave and Melanie Lim to get insights on their fashion philosophies, favorite designers and reflections on the industry.
Kaye Morales
“I have always been surrounded by art and fell in love with my craft at an early age. I’ve been designing since I was a kid and I always believe that I was born creative and I was blessed with a talent. My favorite subjects in SoFA are Fashion Illustration and Cad. These are the subjects that broaden more my knowledge in designing. I’ve learned to transform sticks into realistic human croquis and, on the other hand, CAD taught me a lot of techniques in Adobe Photoshop, which I could use in designing clothes detail by detail without having to sketch on the paper. I could do it directly using Photoshop. These two subjects would definitely help me in my work.
“Clothes for me are the best expression of emotions, they speak about my freedom as a designer. So learn to trust your ideas, and if you do things, do them well. Be what you are and this is the first step to becoming better than you are. As a designer you have to learn to trust yourself to be able to succeed. You need to find something to hold on to, something that will motivate you and something that will inspire you. You have to keep your dreams alive and it requires hard work, vision, determination and dedication. Because all things are possible for those who believe.”
Noelle Llave
“I realized that I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was in high school. I created something unique and the experience encouraged me to explore my creative side. I believe that a woman should dress for no one but herself. I admire designers such as Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, Rick Owens, Alexander McQueen, Junya Watanabe, Daphne Guiness and Katie Gallagher. Local designers who I look up to include avante garde designers such as Patty Eustaquio, Mich Dulce, Joey Samson, Ivarluski Aseron, John Herrera and Jerome Lorico. For the past two years of being a fashion student, I’ve learned that if you are really passionate about what you’re doing and giving your all, the hard tasks that you encounter will just be an experience to become better and eventually be among the best.”
Melanie Lim
“I’ve always been interested in fashion but it was only when I was 22 that I realized that I wanted to be a designer. I originally wanted to start a retail business but my knowledge on textiles and clothing in general was very basic. That’s why I decided to go and study Fashion Design. My favorite classes in SoFA include Draping, Patternmaking and Fashion Illustration. Draping because I just love the way you are able to experiment with different types of fabrics and you immediately see what you’re working on looks. It’s also a very couture technique and that makes it very interesting for me. Patternmaking for a lot of people is difficult but it’s the challenge it presents that makes it my favorite. It’s a very rewarding subject when I’m able to look at a dress from a magazine and be able to imagine how the pattern was done — it makes me happy. Fashion Illustration was the subject I dreaded on my first day in SoFA. My drawing skills were limited to stick figures and basic shapes but after a few weeks in Fashion Illustration 1, Sir Jan Garcia was able to teach me how to draw and since then I have loved sketching. It’s something I never thought I’d learn and maybe that’s why it became a favorite class of mine.
“My fashion icons include Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O and Coco Chanel. I just loved the way they carried themselves, they always remained beautiful, poised and elegant even during the most trying of times. They were strong women who touched the lives of so many people back in the day. Coco Chanel is also one of my favorite designers because she was brave enough to defy the “rules of fashion” during her time; she simply stayed true to herself.
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that fashion is not all about the glitz and glamour, it’s a lot of hard work. You have to be dedicated and you should have a lot of passion in what you do. Studying fashion also made me learn that you should know who you are and at the end of the day you have to stay true to that because that’s how people will remember you.”
Photography by JOANNE ZAPANTA-ANDRADA • Model: WENDY TABUSALLA • Clothes by KAYE MORALES (0926-7243143; www.schizoglam.multiply.com); NOELLE LLAVE (noellellave@multiply.com and noellellave@yahoo.com); and MELANIE LIM (0927-7559656; cmelanielim@gmail.com)