Revisit Lulu Tan-Gan’s collection for the Red Charity Gala and appreciate her ability to transform piña into a luxury fabric.
One’s purpose is the driving force in whatever they do. It is the “why” that is at the core of everyone’s dreams, aspirations, and goals. Furthermore, it is the reason why people begin their journey and why they keep on going. Having already had an illustrious fashion career, Lulu Tan-Gan revisits her purpose.
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In her most recent collection showcased at the recent Red Charity Gala, Lulu revised the handbook when using piña fabric in fashion. In an exclusive interview with Lifestyle Asia, Lulu shared the process and inspiration behind the collection.
Sprout Of Inspiration
Lulu chose the piña as the center of her collection. “I have a deep personal connection with our heritage piña fabric as I am captivated by its ethereal beauty,” she said. To further convey her mission to elevate the use of piña, Lulu created the concept of “Farm to Fashion.” She designed her collection to organically showcase the dignified grace piña fabric naturally gives off.
Moreover, the design story for this collection is the symbolic bridging of the three major islands of the Philippines. “Symbolic Bridging of Islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao: Kalinga motif and embroideries for Luzon, piña for Visayas, and mandaya motif for Mindanao,” she explained.
These inspirations and design codes were present in the collection as piña long-sleeve shirts, printed trench coats, and coords walked down the runway. Furthermore, the piña used in each design were printed with patterns and motifs unique to Filipino culture. Lulu also designed for both men and women. She created looks that are feminine, masculine, and androgynous, giving options to all.
Behind The Stitches
Lulu revealed that the process of creating the whole collection took six months. The meticulous process was divided into three stages: planning, designing, and creating.
According to Lulu, it took three months to finish the first step in creating the collection. First, she researched local culture, arts, and current trends to find her inspiration. She then created a mood board wherein she drew possible basic silhouettes, selected possible fabrics & color swatches, and sketched the initial designs for her collection. Furthermore, during this time, she spent her time experimenting with her chosen fabric—showing her expertise in fabric manipulation and treatments.
After planning, she began designing the whole collection. It is the stage where she edited and finalized everything about the collection. “Designing half the collection with this in mind. Keeping the tradition, keeping it relevant, keeping it sustainable, and experimenting with new possibilities with piña,” she mentioned. She veered away from the traditional barong or tenor. This whole process took two and a half months.
Lastly, it took half a month to make and polish everything in the collection. “Making starts with cutting. Because I cut every piece myself, I experiment at the spur of the moment,” she adds. Moreover, Lulu has a peculiar process that makes her collection more magical. “I also do not follow the normal process of design, sewing and finishing… I evolve the design at the spur of the moment,” she explains.
Purposeful Runway
When asked who her muses are, Lulu simply answers that her love for her family helped her create this collection. ”My muses are my family, and they mean the world to me. Audrey, my niece, and Adi, my grandniece, have always been by my side, including at Bench Fashion Week. Xandra and Luis are also dear to me—I was honored to be their godmother when they exchanged wedding vows in Ilocos.”
Beyond family and personal fulfillment, Lulu’s runway show for the Red Charity Gala is all about uplifting Filipino textiles. Furthermore, her mission is to redefine and reimagine the image of the piña—bringing it to a luxury level. “True luxury is defined by natural, understated elegance. It transcends trends and ostentation, focusing instead on the inherent beauty of materials and craftsmanship,” she asserts.
In her collection, she made sure that her vision of piña elevated the fabric to luxury status. This is done through embracing simplicity and authenticity. Lulu created a collection highlighting the textile and its quality as the superstar of the show. “It invited appreciation for the subtleties, such as the texture of a finely woven fabric or the delicate details in the handcrafted pieces,” she emphasized.
All photos by Ed Simon of KLIQ, Inc.
