Photographed by Artu Nepomuceno
Ivarluski Aseron
“Piknik Sa Tabing Ilog” (“Picnic by the River”)“What makes Filipino craft unique are the patterns and details used because they hold special meaning for the practitioners of the craft.”
“What makes Filipino craft unique are the patterns and details used because they hold special meaning for the practitioners of the craft.”
Inspired by an old image of lovers having a picnic by the river, Ivarluski Aseron’s gown features techniques inspired by the banig and Venetian blinds.
The woven mat, which is colloquially referred to as banig in the Philippines, was considered a sleeping essential in olden times. Though traditionally made with palm leaves or tikog leaves, Ivarluski honors the craft by employing the technique with laser-cut gazar in his designs. In fact, his banig creations have been featured in Vogue’s September issue two years in a row—first in the form of a dress worn as a long skirt, and second in the form of a full terno.
For the inaugural Threads exhibit, the designer turns to the humble mat once more to create a high-neck, longline bodice that extends to an intricate layered skirt. He expounds, “I used weaving, which is a common, well-used and useful craft in the Philippines. I also used [a] ‘Venetian blinds’ technique, which I developed by finding new expressions for an old technique.”
These manners of making are hyper-localized and personal to Ivarluski, who believes that it’s what makes his craft unlike any other. “What makes Filipino craft unique,” he points out, “are the patterns and details used because they hold special meaning for the practitioners of the craft.”
His organza look was inspired by an old photograph he came across, of lovers having a picnic by the river. The banig top represents the mat where the two sat, while the skirt represents the soft ripples of the river that surrounded them.
On its second anniversary, Vogue Philippines invites homegrown and global creatives to Vogue Threads, an experience that weaves Philippine culture, creativity, and community into the world. Its inaugural edition celebrates Filipino artistry and heritage, through an exhibit featuring the works of designers from the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Photographer: Artu Nepomuceno. Art Director: Jann Pascua. Fashion Editor: David Milan. Production Designer: Riza Rosal. Producer: Anz Hizon, Bianca Zaragoza. Photography Assistants: Odan Juan, Lou Fajardo. Styling Assistants: KJ Villanueva, Miguel Rafael Timbol. Production Design Assistant: Christian Manlunas. PR Associate: Sophia Correa. Backdrop: Espacio Creativo Escolta.
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- Jaggy Glarino Imbues Filipino Craft and Nostalgia in “Fu Dalu”
