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Fashion and Beauty
Thian Rodriguez marks a new chapter in his life with 'Kilusan' collection
Lifestyle
Fashion and Beauty
Thian Rodriguez marks a new chapter in his life with 'Kilusan' collection
Thian Rodriguez marks a new chapter in his life with 'Kilusan' collection
The Filipino fashion designer and newly elected president of the Fashion Designer Alliance dedicates his latest collection to his mother
By John Legaspi
Published Aug 4, 2023 07:14 am
For many designers, fashion goes beyond just a form of art. It is also a way for them to mark moments in their lives—whether it is for a celebration, a new discovery, a desperate time, or a farewell to things they loss. Designing is their therapy. It is their way to release their emotions and inner thoughts. And in the process, they create beauty.
Thian Rodriguez (Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
A perfect example of fashion being an anecdote of a designer’s life is Thian Rodriguez’s latest collection. Showcased at the “Kaugmaon” fashion charity event, led by one of the country's biggest and premier space and talent-as-a-service providers in the Philippines KMC Solutions, his collection dubbed “Kilusan” marked two chapters in his life. First, the collection is his maiden release as the newly elected president of the Fashion Designer Alliance (FaDAL). The fashion organization positions itself as a group that is on a mission to raise the local fashion scene by putting Filipino artistry at the forefront. “As the new president of the FaDAL, one of my goals is to champion Filipino craftsmanship and culture through fashion. For me, authenticity is one of the key principles that a designer should possess, and we have a lot of talents and skills to offer,” Thian tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “Our purpose and stories as Filipinos define and differentiate us from other designers. We revolutionize boundaries. We think out loud and out of the box. FaDAL is ready to show the fashion community that we are the better future.”
(Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
Second, the collection is his love letter to his adoptive single mother. According to Thian, his mother underwent surgery last year after finding a massive mass in her left breast. Fortunately, it was falsely diagnosed as Stage 4 cancer. But knowing that they only have a few months left to be with her during that time shook everyone in his family to the core. This made the “Kilusan” collection his way of honoring his mother. “That is what my ‘Kilusan’ is all about. My entire family has been through emotional trauma but it made us all strong and hopeful—it made us all warriors,” the designer says. “My mom has a big heart, she is the kindest and most humble person I've ever known. A heart that fought battles for us and battles that aren't worth fighting for just to protect us. ‘Kilusan’ mirrors my mom's strength and bravery.” “It's [also] her first time to witness my collection strutting down the runway and I will always cherish the moment because when I had my first-ever show with BYS last year, it was her operation,” he adds.
(Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
Apart from dedicating the collection to his mother, what makes Thian’s latest collection stand out from his past works is his great inclusion of handwoven Filipino tapestries and his shift to a different kind of leather. In the fashion community, Thian is known for his leatherwork using genuine leather. This time, he opted to use polyurethane leather, which is also known as faux, vinyl, or vegan leather. “Since the pandemic, I've been using polyurethane leather a lot. Mainly because, locally, it has a wider variation of textures and colors than genuine leather,” Thian muses. “But don't get me wrong, I still use genuine leather but only when a client or a project demands it.”
(Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
For the collection, Thian paired the vegan leather with local textiles such as binakol and kantarines from Abra and buhi weaves from Camarines Sur. Part of his process was also collaborating with other designers and brands. Emerging designer Vilrick Cruz of House of Vilriqu created the breastplate worn by Iza Giron-McCullough, the wife of KMC Solutions’ CEO Michael McCullough. Also present on the runway were the handcrafted necklaces of Paula Pioquinto-Dimaano of Piesca and the men's sandals of Mia Santos of Postura Manila, which were made in Marikina City. As a result, he produced a collection that’s rebellious, contemporary, and something that truly champions Filipino artisans and their craft. “I challenged myself. I wanted [to present] my own take on using indigenous or traditional fabrics and making them fashion-forward,” Thian says. “I hope I was able to achieve that in this collection… Every time I do a collection, I've been true to my purpose to champion Filipino craftsmanship and culture. I've been using local handwoven fabrics when I design bags and footwear but I haven't created a full collection showcasing them.” One of the highlights of the “Kaugmaon” was a fashion auction for KMC Cares Charity, which benefited A Child’s Dream Foundation, a non-profit that supports children on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities. Thian owes the success of “Kaugmaon” to KMC Solutions due to its unwavering support. “I have a lot of gratitude to them, especially to KMC Solutions’ associate director Theresse Reyes-Hilario, as well as Michael McCullough and Iza Giron-McCullough. “They are committed to providing premium office spaces and high-performing offshore teams for both Filipino and Multinational companies,” he ends.
Thian Rodriguez (Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
A perfect example of fashion being an anecdote of a designer’s life is Thian Rodriguez’s latest collection. Showcased at the “Kaugmaon” fashion charity event, led by one of the country's biggest and premier space and talent-as-a-service providers in the Philippines KMC Solutions, his collection dubbed “Kilusan” marked two chapters in his life. First, the collection is his maiden release as the newly elected president of the Fashion Designer Alliance (FaDAL). The fashion organization positions itself as a group that is on a mission to raise the local fashion scene by putting Filipino artistry at the forefront. “As the new president of the FaDAL, one of my goals is to champion Filipino craftsmanship and culture through fashion. For me, authenticity is one of the key principles that a designer should possess, and we have a lot of talents and skills to offer,” Thian tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “Our purpose and stories as Filipinos define and differentiate us from other designers. We revolutionize boundaries. We think out loud and out of the box. FaDAL is ready to show the fashion community that we are the better future.”
(Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
Second, the collection is his love letter to his adoptive single mother. According to Thian, his mother underwent surgery last year after finding a massive mass in her left breast. Fortunately, it was falsely diagnosed as Stage 4 cancer. But knowing that they only have a few months left to be with her during that time shook everyone in his family to the core. This made the “Kilusan” collection his way of honoring his mother. “That is what my ‘Kilusan’ is all about. My entire family has been through emotional trauma but it made us all strong and hopeful—it made us all warriors,” the designer says. “My mom has a big heart, she is the kindest and most humble person I've ever known. A heart that fought battles for us and battles that aren't worth fighting for just to protect us. ‘Kilusan’ mirrors my mom's strength and bravery.” “It's [also] her first time to witness my collection strutting down the runway and I will always cherish the moment because when I had my first-ever show with BYS last year, it was her operation,” he adds.
(Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
Apart from dedicating the collection to his mother, what makes Thian’s latest collection stand out from his past works is his great inclusion of handwoven Filipino tapestries and his shift to a different kind of leather. In the fashion community, Thian is known for his leatherwork using genuine leather. This time, he opted to use polyurethane leather, which is also known as faux, vinyl, or vegan leather. “Since the pandemic, I've been using polyurethane leather a lot. Mainly because, locally, it has a wider variation of textures and colors than genuine leather,” Thian muses. “But don't get me wrong, I still use genuine leather but only when a client or a project demands it.”
(Photo by Alvin Guevarra)
For the collection, Thian paired the vegan leather with local textiles such as binakol and kantarines from Abra and buhi weaves from Camarines Sur. Part of his process was also collaborating with other designers and brands. Emerging designer Vilrick Cruz of House of Vilriqu created the breastplate worn by Iza Giron-McCullough, the wife of KMC Solutions’ CEO Michael McCullough. Also present on the runway were the handcrafted necklaces of Paula Pioquinto-Dimaano of Piesca and the men's sandals of Mia Santos of Postura Manila, which were made in Marikina City. As a result, he produced a collection that’s rebellious, contemporary, and something that truly champions Filipino artisans and their craft. “I challenged myself. I wanted [to present] my own take on using indigenous or traditional fabrics and making them fashion-forward,” Thian says. “I hope I was able to achieve that in this collection… Every time I do a collection, I've been true to my purpose to champion Filipino craftsmanship and culture. I've been using local handwoven fabrics when I design bags and footwear but I haven't created a full collection showcasing them.” One of the highlights of the “Kaugmaon” was a fashion auction for KMC Cares Charity, which benefited A Child’s Dream Foundation, a non-profit that supports children on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities. Thian owes the success of “Kaugmaon” to KMC Solutions due to its unwavering support. “I have a lot of gratitude to them, especially to KMC Solutions’ associate director Theresse Reyes-Hilario, as well as Michael McCullough and Iza Giron-McCullough. “They are committed to providing premium office spaces and high-performing offshore teams for both Filipino and Multinational companies,” he ends.