MANILA, PHILIPPINES — SoFA Design Institute, the country’s leading design school, hosted its Graduation Show 2024, entitled “Beyond The Seams,” launching a new breed of design leaders in the country.
Led by 19 of the Institute’s 2023 graduates, the designers are from the 2-Year in Fashion Design and Marketing program and the 4-Year BA Fashion Design and Marketing program, providing students with rich exposure to both the creative and business aspects of fashion.
SoFA Design Institute banks on “The SoFA Method,” a creative self-discovery approach in which students are encouraged to explore unconventional avenues. This allows them to find inspiration from within to shape their artistic vision, discover their design language, and hone their technical skills.
In Beyond The Seams, design becomes a canvas for portraying pivotal moments in these 19 designers’ lives. Attendees embarked on a visual journey through the minds of these emerging fashion designers as they uncover their pasts, grasp their presents, and navigate the in-betweens. Each creation unveils the designer’s journey to self-resolution, guided by the art of design.
The event was held in the prestigious National Museum of Natural History, which houses the Philippines’ rich biological and geological diversity, weaving creativity into the culture and celebrating artistry.
Amina Aranáz-Alunan, Co-founder and President of SoFA Design Institute, congratulated the designers on their years of hard work, dedication, and creativity. “You are not just presenting garments; you are telling your stories and sharing a snippet of your inner selves- each piece reflects your unique perspective, cultural influences, and artistic expression.”
“Share your voice to the world and inspire those around you,” added Amina, embracing the transformative power of design and reminding the designers that in SoFA, “We Live Design.”
As the designers made their curtain call, Gerald Farofaldane represented the batch in his closing remarks, “‘What stories do we want to share with the world?'” he started. Stitching passion, creativity, and resilience have brought them to this runway. “We found ourselves in the midst of connection, that these stories that we tell as designers bind us as friends and as humans,” said Gerald.
The designers, 2-Year in Fashion Design and Marketing graduates, Janelle Hung, Stephanie Satorre, Hannah Tapawan, Gil Salazar, Reese Capistrano, Elisha Solamo, and Emir Loresto, and 4-Year BA Fashion Design and Marketing graduates- Dana Sadile, Myca Bulanadi, Kamille Ramos, Francis Odoy, Erica Terol, John Valenzuela, Lucia Cadiz, Nicole Paril, Amaya Severino, Kayla Flores, Dev Kuramoto, and Gerald Farofaldane, translated their stories with every stitch, going beyond the seams.
