May the Force be with Rodarte
MANILA, Philippines - Before my parents decided that my room would look more grown up with Malang watercolors on the walls, I had framed Star Wars movie posters hanging alongside my bed. The first things I’d see upon waking were Darth Vader’s helmet and Luke Skywalker’s hands brandishing his father’s blue lightsaber. My life’s ambition is still to be a Jedi Knight sidelining as a Rogue Squadron X-Wing pilot. I think it’s safe to say that I’m a Star Wars geek through and through, so imagine my absolute surprise (and nerd thrill) to see the sci-fi of my youth strutting down the Rodarte NYFW Fall 2014 runway. Granted, Rodarte is never really inside the box, but who could ever have expected the Mulleavy sisters would take it as far out as a galaxy far, far away? They sent frocks decorated with the likes of Luke Skywalker, Yoda, and C-3P0 down the runway, to the Internet’s (and my) intergalactic delight.
That’s what we were when we saw furniture designer Vito Selma’s Instagram post earlier this week, pointing out the similarities between his own NAJA Pillow Collection from 2013 and one of designer Betina Ocampo’s latest sweaters. Both designs utilized hand-carved shells specifically placed to replicate snakeskin. Ocampo’s work has been featured in international titles like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, while Selma’s furniture has decorated the homes of luminaries like Nelson Mandela. We don’t know what went down, but we’re hoping these world-class Filipino talents manage to work it out.