‘Being that ballroom culture is a big part of the LGBTQIA+ Community, I wanted to give wearers a sense of confidence when they are wearing my clothes whatever gender or race you may be.’
Thanks to the documentary film “Paris Is Burning” and TV series “Pose,” the world gets to see a larger view of what the art of ball truly means. A sub-culture of the LGBTQIA+ community, ballroom culture provided an avenue for queer folks to express themselves, bringing their fantasy into life, in a safe space free from society’s prejudice. Bringing that New York culture to the Philippine runway is fashion designer Oz Go for the 13th season of the Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival.
Aptly called “Playground,” Oz’s spring-summer 2022 collection is serving sickening looks this season with designs in vibrant hues and eccentric style, all in homage to the voguing category of the ballroom culture.
“I started working on it last year in November, the first time I had a long time working on a collection. I usually prepare two to three months ahead,” Oz tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “I had a bit of struggle along the way because I caught COVID-19 early this year so I had to stop production. Good thing there is easier access online where I got to work with graphic artist, Sean De Leon, and young talented DJ Teya for the vogue remix of ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich’ by Lady Gaga.”
While there are no improvisational movements and sharp poses seen on the runway, the ballroom’s spirit is alive through Oz’s creations. Designs in fuschia pink, bronze-green, and lemon yellow with hints of metallic tones paraded on the runway. The designer worked on multiple textiles, from cotton shirting, ribbed jersey, and power mesh to cotton organdy, ultra-fine polyester, and jersey to create eccentric versions of the ‘90s style of clothing.
“It is okay to express your true colors, being that ballroom culture is a big part of the LGBTQIA+ Community, I wanted to give wearers a sense of confidence when they are wearing my clothes whatever gender or race you may be,” the designer says about his collection. “This is the first time I’m doing a virtual runway, so it’s exciting and I hope it will reach a lot more people around the world.”
Check out Oz Go “Playground” collection below:
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