Gail Sorronda Marks Her 20th Anniversary with a Victorian Gothic Collection

A sea of monochromatic outfits awaited the unveiling of Australian-Filipino designer Gail Sorronda’s 20th anniversary collection.

Held at Brisbane’s Urban Art Projects (UAP), the industrial space lent into Sorronda’s raw, gothic roots. UAP, known for manufacturing the Oscars’ trophies, is a foundry for the preservation, curation, and manufacturing of artworks and objects, run by New York-based director of marketing Gilbert Guaring. Guests were first transported into Sorronda’s world with a dramatic dance piece by Australasian Dance Collective, mimicking the movements of shadows through sharp laser beams.

Sorronda’s aesthetic has always defied trends, and this collection, titled “Chromophobia,” was a retrospective built on her navigation between her cultural worlds and her desire for the truth using nothing but her own voice.

The collection was sculptural yet flowy, underpinned by her expression of contrast and control. The injection of bold color packed a punch to her quintessential monochromatic Victorian Gothic aesthetic. Layered silk pleating adorned with bows and sheer tulle paired with rouched leather boots was a juxtaposition of elegance and edge, a look Jenna Ortega could easily wear in Netflix’s Wednesday.

When asked about the importance of her Filipino culture in her work, Gail replies, “[It’s naturally embedded, subconsciously.” She continues, “When I think about traditional garments, I see an emphasis on silhouette, particularly in the sleeves. I [am] also [inspired by] the strong Filipino female spirit. It’s archetypal. I can’t count the amount of times I have had conversations with others, sharing similar ancestry about our strong Filipina mothers.”

A piece in the collection, inspired by her first graduate work “Angel At My Table,” was a bow dress referred to as the “Lola Dress” after vividly seeing a shooting start, taken as a sign from her late lola.

Sorronda’s work has been worn by the likes of SZA, Lorde, Winona Ryder, and more recently has been featured in the pages of Vogue Philippines. She presented at Milan and Rome Fashion Week as a Vogue Italia ‘Who’s Next Finalist,’ seen by industry leaders. Karl Lagerfeld has recognized the designer as “one to watch,” and Stefano Gabbana has described her work as “my taste” in The Wall Street Journal.

How does it feel after all this time? “The compulsion is still there,” she says, “along with the tension between love and fear and creating and hiding!” Now with 20 years under her belt, Sorronda plans to continue her storytelling with more collections, collaborations, and learning.