Filipino fashion label Novel recently unveiled its newest collection at Club Kino in collaboration with Blah Blah Inc and Guava Sketches. Aptly named Body Shrines, the collection places an emphasis on the human body and reimagines garments as the "second skin" that people choose to don.
Prince Padilla, the local label's fashion designer and Preview's BFFD 2023 awardee, also designed the pieces to be versatile, inclusive, and effortless in line with this vision of body freedom. Similar to his past collections, the young designer also used deadstock fabric and locally-sourced materials to push for sustainability and longevity.
Read more about Body Shrines below as Prince discusses his artistic visions and processes in his exclusive interview with Preview.
Preview Creative Spotlight: Prince Padilla on Novel's Body Shrines Collection
Can you give us an overview of the concept or theme behind your collection? What was your creative vision and how is it connected to your design ethos?
"The primary intention of this collection is to begin to think about garments as versatile and easily integratable pieces in people’s already existing wardrobes. It comes with a consciousness in longevity and sustainability, in consumption and wearability whilst being able to offer a new visual aesthetic."
"This new offering is as playful as the last offering, but is more wearable, occasion-less. 80% of the fabrics I’ve utilised are also still deadstock fabric and 100% of materials are still sourced locally."
Are there any particular influences that shaped your collection? How did they inspire your work?
"How we adorn our bodies with what we choose as second skin and the freedom that comes with that. The title of the new work is Body Shrines and it puts the body right at the centre of focus. A lot of the clothes have ease and are adjustable. A lot of the jersey ribs for instance fit a size small to a size large—it comes with the body in mind. Club Kino was our venue and it was set in an intimate space, allowing people who attended to take their time with their interactions with the clothes."
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What are the main design elements in your collection? Are there any specific fabrics, materials, motifs, silhouettes, or colors that defined your collection?
"A lot of familiar fabrics, jersey-shirting, and for the first time, suiting fabrics for the female form. It was great to be able to go back to my menswear roots even if it was just through materiality and as always, intentional construction."
"The colour palette for this collection is a direct response to my research. Grounded and neutral colours—dark and light browns, skin tones and natural colour of sky blue."
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What methods or crafting techniques did you use to construct your pieces? How long did it take to complete this collection?
"My work has always been intentional of garment construction/deconstruction and a specific eye for detail. This body of work took roughly four months."
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What specific message do you wish to convey through this collection? How do you want others to feel after seeing your work?
"I want people to look at their own clothes and ask themselves, 'How well do you know your own clothes?' I want people to stop thinking about new collections as form of entertainment but as an opportunity to open a wider conversation that’s more relevant to the world we live in today."
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"A consciousness in longevity is paramount. This work is me acknowledging this responsibility as a designer. We shouldn’t forget that it is a responsibility to be able to communicate the intentions behind your creations. All the garments in this collection are one-off pieces. I think that already communicates a lot, if you think about it through a sustainable lens."
Can you share any fun fact or unknown trivia about any of your pieces?
"I’m still sewing everything myself! Intimate and fun as always."
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