It’s not every day one gets to see up close the treasured, personal collections of one of the country’s most stylish personalities. Maritess M. Pineda, ArteFino and Friends of Manansala Foundation co-founder, is turning 80 years old this month. In celebration of this milestone, eight of her dresses, along with collaborated art pieces via Art House, will be on display from Oct. 24 to 27, 2024, at the South Court of Power Plant Mall in Makati City
“It felt more meaningful and purposeful to come up with an exhibit than to throw another party. It’s important to have an activity that would tell the story of Philippine art, heritage, and design,” Maritess says about the upcoming event, “Terno: Celebrating a Legacy Forged from Design and Art.”
The press preview held on Oct. 14 provided a glimpse of what to expect next week, featuring three of Pineda’s dresses on display. “You can see the diversity and the different styles of clothes that I have journeyed with throughout my life,” she began, showcasing her debutante gown by the late Ramon Valera, National Artist for Fashion Design. Her parents were close friends with Valera, giving the designer creative freedom to create this milestone gown. On display was an ivory-colored waist-cut gown adorned with intricate hand-beaded crystals, seed beads, shells, and pearls, inviting us to appreciate its craftsmanship.
Pineda moved on to the second ensemble on display, made of Philippine indigenous fabric combined with vintage French lace that her mother had cherished for years. She entrusted these to Patis Tesoro, who crafted a two-piece fully beaded dress and jacket—perfect for the grandmother of the bride. “Without using the exact words, Patis was the very first proponent of sustainability,” Maritess pointed out. “She was and remains to be ahead of her time. She pioneered ideas on zero-waste, repurposing materials, and mixing materials with other fabrics.”
The third dress is the one that Maritess wore for her mother’s ruby anniversary. Expertly sewn together by Steve de Leon, it features her mother’s Maria Clara top paired with a black and gray striped train skirt. A black beaded mesh overlay with tassels added a sophisticated touch to this Filipiniana-themed gown. “We visited his shop often and shared fond memories especially as he was perfecting his craft,” she reminisced. “He once told me that it was my mother who inspired him to evolve as an artist and use different fabrics for his pieces. It would be great to see what Steve is doing now. Every time I wear his pieces, people would comment on his genius.”
Grateful for these precious creations that have been well-preserved over the years, Maritess credits her mom for recognizing the value of these designer pieces. “It was my mother who shaped me and my preferences in fashion. She would keep her clothes in bauls. She never discarded them. When we started to look through her collection, we discovered all these beautiful gowns and dresses. That’s really where it all began.”
This exhibit will showcase couture creations by the designers mentioned earlier, along with contemporary interpretations of our national dress by Bayo Atelier, Len Cabili, Jor-El Espina, Rajo Laurel, and Cora Manimbo. Art House enlisted artists such as 0270501, Enon de Belen, Alvaro Jimenez, Ronna Manansala, Anina Rubio, and Melissa Yeung-Yap to present their works inspired by the fashion pieces that will be showcased. Tesoro’s never-before-seen artworks featuring local textiles are another reason to catch the exhibit, along with Jo Ann Bitagcol’s photo prints of Cabili’s embroidered dresses.
“My mom has always been a supporter of Philippine fashion and art,” said Carlo Pineda, Art House Founder and son of Maritess. “Her journey as a patron of both presented us with a beautiful proposition to blend fashion and art in one space.”
“Terno is the inspiration for Art House to now look into showing how art and fashion can evolve hand in hand. Both can adapt to the direction and the needs of the times,” Maritess added. “They can adapt while taking into consideration the need to address the climate change crisis. They can do all of this while keeping in mind that preservation of heritage is key.”
”Terno: Celebrating a Legacy Forged from Design and Art” will continue at the Art House Gallery at JMP Bldg., Jose Cruz Street, Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City.