by Nikki Gotianse-Tan
Of the many things that we know celebrated designer Rajo Laurel can do, it is widely acknowledged that he knows how to stage a collection. In his second outing for Plains & Prints, Rajo goes a step further and creates a precedent to his collection – entitled Design Odyssey – that is quite unlike anything that the ordinary consumer usually sees in the landscape of Philippine retail especially from a homegrown brand.
Collaborating with visual artist Jujiin Samonte, Rajo released a series of videos highlighting different steps in his design process. As the videos inched to reveal Rajo’s identity and that of different elements of his collection such as having Ria Bolivar as the face of his campaign and taking his inspirations from outer space, one becomes immersed in these illuminating glimpses into his creative journey that is nothing short of awe-inspiring in its unusual beauty. The visual montage of what went on behind the scenes also became a worthwhile preoccupation for those of us who eagerly awaited its launch on March 11. It was certainly a sign that something dreamy and artistic awaited us around the bend from Rajo and the artisans of Plains & Prints.
Lest this become a piece about how ingenious I thought putting out the videos were and very little about the actual pieces of the collection, it has to be said that you can only gain a full appreciation of the garments themselves after hearing what Rajo has to say about them. The likeable designer describes his collection to be a study of what how he envisions women in the future will dress. The clothes have what he calls an “amorphous quality” which allows the wearer to decide how to put them together. Done in colors that are cool and lovely to the eye and luxurious to the touch, his collection has an undeniable artisan quality that is apparent in its distinct silhouettes and immaculate workmanship. The multi-way tops and jersey dresses give the feel of delicious free form, allowing women to reign in the beautiful pieces and make it all their own. The inclusion of a trench dress and wrap-around blouse is sure to please career women who are always on the lookout for smart yet ladylike pieces. There are the cocktail-chic jersey dresses with beaded details that are sure to be snapped up by the social set among others. Most, of course, would like to get their hands on the silk dresses with the beautifully futuristic graphic print that was specially created for this collection.
As your eyes will travel up and down the incredible garments, the fluid fall of the fabrics and the undeniable modern element that binds each and every piece are what make them hard to resist. These are clothes that are in no way inhibiting in fit yet they are given just the right tucks and drapes to follow the female physique and make it a picture of totally relaxed chic. One cannot help but imagine the woman of the future Rajo conjures through his designs – one who has a sense that she inhabits a world that requires much of her but one she decidedly wants to navigate in great form. It couldn’t have taken a more design-savvy visionary coupled with a celebrated brand like Plains & Prints to make this very stylish future an entirely plausible reality.
Rajo’s Design Odyssey collection for Plains & Prints is now available at all Plains & Prints stores nationwide.
