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EVEN
during his art school days at the University of Santo
Tomas, the name Ben Farrales already audibly rang a
number of bells. This writer heard plenty about his
genius in draping sinuous fabrics into garments echoing
Grecian lines. Such garments became the piece de
resistance at the now defunct Aurelia’s, the shop where
gorgeous imported clothes and the handiworks of Farrales
side by side were gobbled up by Manila women who desired
to be up to the minute fashion-wise.
 Gifted
men tend to want to be independently on their own. So in
the mid-’50s the glamorous A. Mabini Street, then the
counterpart of New York’s Fifth Avenue, prided itself in
having a window showcasing the master strokes of Ben
Farrales, draped or otherwise.
My
initial encounter with Mr. Farrales was while both of us
were combing Villalobos stalls in Divisoria searching
for the right color of silk to line evening garments
with. Even then, he already exuded abundantly the air of
a confident and qualified artist. That initial meeting
gave me more impetus, some more rhyme-and-reason to
aspire for a career in fashion design.
Every
designer worthy of his calling in his development and
progression discovers for himself his virtue
design-wise. Consistently, Mr. Farrales have been
fascinated with the design influence and language
provided by the Muslims of the south.
It can
be said that Mr. Farrales has a penchant and
predilection for the exotic features of the Muslim
native wear. While most try to embrace contemporary and
European influences, the master draper sticks to his
guns, and one can say he is the singular authority of
that look hereabouts.
A few
nights ago, Mr. Farrales was given a rare chance to
prove that his genius has remained intact, and maybe is
even richer and steadily moving on. In Flair for
Fashion, a fashion marathon organized by the officers
and members of the Friends of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines, the brief finale portion of the evening was
set aside for the latest handiworks of the master
fashion guru.
In the
true context of a fashion collection, the designer
cleverly grouped a few suites that revealed what he is
still capable of doing. Functioning as a fashion
commentator, this writer is thoroughly inclined to rate
them suites as Very Ben Farrales.
Every
suite proved the collections to be freshly crafted.
Unlike most so-called retrospective shows, the Farrales
numbers are piping-hot. No number betrayed a faux pas
like a wayward worn-out hem trailing with loose threads.
Every hem was razor-edge sharp and all the garments were
crisp and well-pressed. Yes. Not one of them emanated
the scent of mothballs.
“Effortless” is a word that can accurately describe
every suite he proudly sent down the runway. For his
opening salvo, Mang Ben exhibited a group of
good-looking models nonchalantly clad in simple ebony
basics topped by squares of translucent scarves
inventively tied or draped on every model. This portion
can be rated or classified as a primer on the artistic
and creative use of scarves.
One
suite screamed with bright colors interspersed on the
basic black garments. One sweeping glance on these gowns
and right away, the Marawi influence is automatically
brought into the observer’s consciousness. Mr. Farrales,
in yet another suite, clearly displayed his proficiency
in mix-matching patterns. As a common denominator the
designer employed the use of a bold black-and-white
striped fabric. Fluently, he used a second fabric to
combine with the stripes, a printed one mimicking a
patchwork of contrasting patterns and colors, the mix
yielding something utterly charming.
As we
mentioned earlier, Mang Ben is a wizard in draping
fabrics in the Grecian mode. Any artist will make it his
advantage to exhibit the trickery he became known for in
his every collection. In this fashion to-do held ON
Tuesday at the Manila Polo Club, Mang Ben exhibited his
sorcery at the pinnacle of the show.
The
three most memorable gowns of the evening he assigned to
Marina Benipayo, Annette Coronel and the still-so-lovely
Chiqui Brosas Hahn. Marina and Annette wore twin
exposures of a design fashioned of fluid jersey in
magenta and a rich shade of cocoa. A length of silk
satin in a very vivid shade of emerald green,
intricately draped in an asymmetrical fashion, was
flaunted by Chiqui Brosas Hahn.
While he
was being presented with the traditional bouquet at the
tailend of the show, the audience present rewarded him
with a generous and rousing applause. The gratified Mang
Ben beamed with happiness and, of course, pride.
Before
he could fade into the backstage shadow, this erstwhile
fashion designer could not help but envy Mang Ben. I
pondered how nice it would be if I could resurrect
“Christian of Manila” so I can have my turn to show my
mettle to fashion aficionados. Oh my God, if only
knowing seamstresses, industrious beaders and artistic
embroiderers were available inside supermarkets and
department stores. But that’s another story. |
