Amid a burgeoning trend of reimagining traditional barongs for everyday wear, Daryl Maat's take on this formalwear staple is a joyful ode to the carefree spirit of childhood. Called the "Pad Paper barong," the Filipino designer transforms the classic garment into a captivating canvas of whimsy and nostalgia. Designed with lively motifs and playful color combinations, each barong captures the essence of youthful imagination in every stitch. Recently, it was worn by Can't Buy Me Love actor Anthony Jennings for his Preview In Focus feature!
In this exclusive, Daryl Maat walks us through the process of breathing life into his thoughtfully designed barongs.
Preview Exclusive: Filipino Designer Daryl Maat on His Pad Paper Barongs
Hi Daryl! We really love your Pad Paper barongs. Could you tell us a little bit about the design and how it first came to be?
“As a Filipino designer, it has always been ingrained in me to draw inspiration from my heritage. I believe there's immense pride in donning our traditional garments. I remember a time when barongs were exclusively reserved for formal occasions. I wanted to contribute to the movement that reimagines the barong for contemporary wear. The Pad Paper barong is a result of that vision–a fusion of tradition and modernity, paying homage to our cultural roots while adapting to the dynamic lifestyle of today.”
What inspired the concept of the Pad Paper barong? How does it relate to your design ethos?
“The concept was deeply inspired by my joyful childhood memories. I vividly recall the moments spent doodling on my grade 1 pad paper. There's an undeniable charm in the uninhibited creativity of children's drawings–the squiggly lines, disproportionate silhouettes, and whimsical color combinations that somehow still manage to capture the essence of a child's imagination. My design ethos has always revolved around graphics, techniques, textures, and colors. Even in my barongs, you can observe traces of this aesthetic, as I strive to infuse each piece with a playful yet refined touch.”
Why execute this particular concept on the barong? Could you walk us through the process of bringing it to life?
“I was keen on crafting a playful barong that was accessible to everyone. The approach is to make it relatable because it reminds you of the formative years of your life. Your first attempt to draw the sun and mountains, the bahay kubo, and your first family stick figures.
“Once we dove into this project, we had a fabric and a few references in mind. However, when it came to techniques, we tried out several approaches. Our goal was to explore different surface techniques not yet seen in the market. It took us some time to refine the product into what it is today.”
What methods or crafting techniques did you use to construct these pieces? How long did it take to complete this collection?
“We explored various thread options for the pad paper lines, experimented with their placement on the barong, decided on the types of drawings, and planned how to execute them.
“In crafting the barongs, we employed both machine and hand embroidery techniques. For the pad paper lines, we utilized two different colors of straight stitch, aligning them meticulously with the grain of the fabric. As for the drawings, we manually sketched childlike designs, and then meticulously embroidered them onto the fabric using embroidery floss.
“Each barong with regular embroidery takes approximately 120 hours to complete.”
What specific message do you wish to convey through this particular take on the barong? How do you want others to feel when wearing your work?
“My intention is for those who wear my barong to feel positive, nostalgic, and hopeful. I want them to perceive life through the lens of a child–carefree and vibrant. Wearing my barong is like wearing your childhood, it reminds you of the good old days when you were a kid, full of life and imagination.”
Can you share a fun fact about the Pad Paper barong?
“A fun fact about the Pad Paper barong is that it always features three stick figures: a boy with a cap, a girl with big hair, and a robot to represent everyone else [rainbow emoji].”
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