The day Inno Sotto made us cry
MANILA, Philippines - The day began in tears.
Inno Sotto was crying when he called me early in the morning of his show last Nov.14. Straight from rehearsals at the CCP, Inno said he went to the STAR office at 5 a.m. to get a copy of the 24-page special issue which we published for distribution during his show that night.
“I cried when I saw it, and I went to the Blessed Sacrament, walking on bended knees from the front door to the altar,” Inno said, his voice still trembling.
Why are you crying, I asked him. Are you nervous — you, of all people? Why should you?Maybe you miss Richard?
And all the more was there crying. Richard Tann was his partner in life and in all artistic pursuits. Inno designed, and Richard took care of the rest. With Richard’s passing away, Inno was now alone preparing for his 30th anniversary show.
Inno reminded me that I was there when his journey began. ”You saw my Indian-inspired show at the Hyatt and when you learned I was leaving again for the States, you told me: Inno, you should stay put here. You don’t leave.”
Yes, one doesn’t leave when one has such an edgy vision in fashion. One doesn’t leave when one has that fearless touch, that gift to be different. One doesn’t leave when Manila — tired of the sequined frou-frous of that era, bored by the sameness of it all — needed something radical.
Inno Sotto was it. His creations were delicate. Graceful. Tasteful. Manila went crazy over him. I saw his show in Paris that made us proud. Manila found itself a new Prince of Fashion. The First Lady Amelita Ramos saw him not just as a fashion designer, but as an intellectual worker who could help her build lives as well. Even Elsa Klensch was impressed.
Inno gave up his green card and stayed for good.
Thirty years later, Inno takes a bow. And comes full circle with a three-part show that takes us to red lanterns, contemporary art inspirations, and then to India once more. But he opens it all with a film that he stitched together in his mind. Beautiful. The film continues onstage, on the ramp.
So beautiful, I heard my soul crying. The day ended in tears.
