Stef Cabal | Philippine Daily Inquirer
If you are serious in becoming a truly fashion craftsman, Slim’s is the school for you.
SLIM’S FASHION and Arts School opens its doors to the public with an exhibit showcasing creations from student designers, to commemorate Slim’s 50 years in the business of fashion education.
The school was established in October 1960 by couture-great, Salvacion Lim Higgins (more popularly known by her acronym, Slims), together with her sister and business partner, Purificacion Lim. During that era, a newspaper reported, “Slim’s was the first true fashion school in the city.”
Making clothes right is a serious business at Slim’s and it was shown throughout the exhibit. It was hard to distinguish which ones were made by beginners from the more advanced budding fashion design students. Each one was equally impressive.
A standout piece was a tiered party dress with puff sleeves made by Kathleen McDonalds, a preparatory dressmaking student. Another was a replica of an original Slims design, echoing Jackie O’s vintage ’60s dress. It was a tough feat for Renilda Cabaron, but nonetheless the product turned out remarkable.
Dressmaking student Jamie Ramos reinterpreted Slims’ black cutout dress, adorned with petal shapes into a dress with geometric petals, rendered digitally on the fabric. Ramos, of course, was able to nail the design.
The terno’s butterfly sleeves are by far the hardest to make among dressmakers: cutting precision and dressmaking mastery are needed. To a Slim’s graduate, creating the butterfly sleeves is no rocket science. “All our graduates can make proper terno sleeves,” proudly states Mark Higgins, the son of the school’s co-founder.
Another masterpiece is one from Riza Bulawan, an advance-dressmaking student. Her piece is a beautifully tailored tiered jacket with impeccable craftsmanship. It took her three months to work on the katcha (rice cloth used for the pattern design) and many sleepless nights.
“It’s practically a couture piece, mostly hand-sewn and reversible,” says Mr. Higgins.
Curriculum
Slim’s method of teaching is very comprehensive, with the founder’s knowledge and techniques as backbone of the curriculum.
“We teach our students everything, from drafting, sewing, pattern-making, from the very basic to the gowns and haute couture, as well as the finishing, which is very important,” says Pablo Mendez III, a fashion design graduate of Slim’s and now a professor in the school
Mendez has won international design competitions, and is now sharing his talent and knowledge to young design students. He feels that it is his mission to give back something to the school that once helped him in his career
Aside from Mendez, the school’s roster of alumni is quite impressive. Slim’s first enrollee, Oskar Peralta, is a respected designer up to this day. Eddie Ocampo, who graduated from the ’60s, established a successful career in Hollywood. The costume director of the Philippine Opera Company is also an alumna, Zenaida Tecson.
Fashion stalwarts such as Cesar Gaupo, Nolie Hans, Joe Salazar (recently nominated for National Artist), Caloy Badidoy, Loretto Popioco are just among notable achievers Slim’s have produced. Other graduates with impressive CVs are Joey Samson, the fave of fashionistas today, and Oliver Tolentino, who has an atelier in Hollywood.
“At Slim’s we are known to have a very good finish. ‘Pulido ang gawa,’” says Mendez. Students are taught to create masterpieces, he adds, They are very particular, down to the last detail of the clothes.
Students are taught that there are no short cuts to success; there are no fast rules in creating clothes. One can’t cheat good design. “It’s not enough to make beautiful drawings, you have to learn how to execute. Otherwise you are not a real designer,” says Mr. Higgins.
“You only covered half the battle. And to really truly realize your vision, you are the only one who can do it; so we always require our students to study fashion design, dressmaking and pattern-making. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of your pattern-maker. And if they quit, that’s it for your business,” he stresses.
Talented students
Most students enroll without the technical know-how, completely not knowing how to make clothes. But the students come equipped with the basic love for fashion, and this alone is enough for anyone to enroll at Slim’s. Fashion recognizes no age, Slim’s have students enrolling as young as 13 years old and as old as 60.
For Erika Adona, 20, who recently graduated in fashion design and who will be moving on to higher learning of dressmaking and pattern-making, she had a detour in her vocation: she had been an undergrad at Mapúa Institute of Technology, taking up Interior Design, when she decided to shift to fashion.
“It was hard for me to pursue interior design because I really wanted to be in fashion,” she says.
Now, everything has been smooth sailing for her. Her teachers are impressed with her work. Erika has hopes of working abroad someday, “Paris!” she exclaims.
The youngest in the school, 16-year-old Renato D. Penaranda III, a fresh graduate from high school, came all the way from the province to enroll at Slim’s.
Penaranda confesses his love for his school, since he has learned a lot from his education and gained more confidence with his designs. “I’m not really good with sketching but when they taught me how to sketch, I can’t help to think, ‘oh my god! Gawa ko ba to?’ I’m so impressed. Parang pang professional,” he says.
Aside from sketching he learned to use watercolor for his designs. “Sobrang parang totoo, you can really imagine the design and the person wearing it,” he says.
Penaranda used to do beadwork, but now he realizes the value of editing and working on couture with less beading; he’s focusing on perfect sewing and design instead.
Miguel Ochosa, 19, spent a year and a half in college in UST for occupational therapy, while Arcel Penaranda, 24, took business management from National College of Business and Arts from Rizal. Both Miguel and Arcel changed course and took the leap of faith to enroll at Slim’s.
“I learned basic sketch and design,” says Arcel. “ I thought it was easy, but it turned out to be difficult. Everything was from scratch. I was able to see my development.” says Arcel.
Miguel was initially poor in sketching but slowly gained confidence with his work. “I don’t know how to draw. Every time we have those exercises, I get so discouraged,” he remembers. But with his teacher’s help, he was able to develop his drawing skills. Miguel hopes to dress up his entire family someday with his designs.
Princess Aguilar, 18, also learned proportion in sketching and found the perfect avenue to put her creativity in good use.
“These activities open doors in their minds…from these activities comes burst of creativity. The students, more importantly, realize what they have in them,” Mr. Higgins states.
Before the glitz and glamour of fashion comes hard work. And this is what Slim’s teaches its students. There are no fast track to learning; you’ve got to use your hands and mind to produce quality garments
When clothes are done faithfully and right (from good old-fashioned hard work), their value will show. The Slim’s student exhibit was the testament to that, 50 years of knowledge and education, handed down to the next generation of fashion designers.
Slim’s Fashion & Arts School is at 2310 Chino Roces Ave., across Makati Cinema Square and down the street from Don Bosco, in Makati. For inquiries, call 8873390, 887-3392; or visit www.slimsfashion.com.
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