Heart Evangelista wearing the designer’s “Santiago” terno is more than just for street fashion photography
Apart from the barong, the terno is one of the most recognizable garments that are truly Filipino. But unlike the traditional male attire, the dress imbued with butterfly sleeves almost got lost in fashion. Thanks to modern design visionaries today, the garb is getting more attention beyond just lady politicians donning the look. One example of this is Filipino style icon Heart Evangelista rocking a contemporary terno dress called “Santiago” in France during Paris Couture Week 2022. And let’s get real, it is as stunning as the international luxury pieces she has been wearing throughout her stay there.
The designer behind Heart’s spectacular terno is Cheetah Rivera. To make it happen, she worked with local beaders from Marikina City who have mastered the intricate craft of beading and hand-sewing techniques. Her goal for the piece is to encourage Filipinas to wear the terno again and discover the country’s heritage through its design.
“I think Filipinas nowadays tend to think that once you wear a terno you’d either look old or it looks like a costume,” Cheetah tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “Isa ito sa mga bagay na nakakalungkot bilang isang manglilikha ng sining sa larangan ng pagbuo ng damit. Noong araw, mayroon tayong tinatawag na ‘Balintawak’ terno at araw-araw itong ginagamit ng mga Filipina (This is one of the sad things as a creative in field of making clothes. Before, we have a piece called the ‘Balintawak’ terno and it’s worn by Filipinas every day).”
Not only is she aiming to bring the terno’s beauty to today’s fashion, but she is also including sustainability in her design process. In her latest collection “Pizza Party,” Cheetah created 20 pieces put of her dead stock materials or “retaso.” Much like Heart’s “Santiago” terno dress, the collection also features pieces that pay homage to iconic Filipina leaders.
“I want to inject one look that is a tribute for a feminist Filipina and I thought of naming the terno dress after the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for her contribution to our country and her inspiration to so many women that we can also do what men can—even better,” she muses. “Each look in the ‘Pizza Party’ collection was named after women who shaped feminism.”
A current contestant of the third edition of the Ternocon, a terno-making convention and competition, Cheetah definitely feels the need to bring the terno back today, a time when national history is being threatened by whitewashing and fake news.
“Trabaho ko bilang isang Pinay na designer na bigyan ng mas malawak na impormasyon ang mga kababaihan na maari pa rin natin isuot ang terno sa kahit ano mang-araw at okasyon dahil sumisimbulo ito ng ating kasaysayan Napakaganda ng terno, sana mahingkayat ko ang maraming Pilipina na pagpatuloy natin isuot ito ng may dangal, dahil sa atin itong disenyong ito. Gaya ng “kimono” ng Japan or “sari” ng India, ito ang sariling atin, ang napakagandang terno. (It is my job as a Filipina designer to give a more broad information to women that they can still wear the terno on any day and in any ocassion. The terno is so beautiful and I hope I can encourage more women to wear it with dignity because it is ours. Like the “kimono” of Japan and the “sari” of India, it is ours, the beautiful terno).”
Check out Cheetah Rivera’s “Pizza Party” collection @cheetahriverastudio on Instagram.
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