FILIPINO designers Brian Tenorio and Emi Jorge celebrate quintessential beauty and exoticism in their Fifth Avenue shoes and accessories exhibition, Tenorio/Jorge: Filipino Specimens on Fifth Avenue.
Each half—Jorge’s artisan-crafted purses and Tenorio’s exquisite footwear—redefines Filipiniana as a contemporary form in the world’s art and fashion capital. Together, the designers embody the male and female archetypes of Filipino ingenuity, beauty and design-intelligence.
Tehran-born Filipino-American Brian Tenorio is the most widely publicized shoe designer from the Philippines. Tenorio’s Dreams collection is his first foray into the New York subconscious—a subversively beautiful and horrifying blend of the magical and macabre, of East and West, of real and imaginary. From the Eight Leather Monster to Tenorio’s masculine version of duckbills —Hammerheads, to his past loves (the Dudu), to family ties (A&A and Ms. T named after his sister), Tenorio’s Dreams Collection enlightens us on the workings of the mind and emotions of one of the Philippines’ most popular sapateros and New York’s newly adopted designing son.
Emi Jorge is one of the Philippines’ foremost women’s shoe and accessories designers. On her 10th year of retail success, she debuts her eponymous brand with the poetry of nature. 14 exquisitely handcrafted minaudieres give form to stories from home: the graceful curve of the carabao’s horn in a vessel of wood and metal; the ruby red of fireflies in semi-precious stone; and the azure sea mirrored in blue-tinted seashells. Jorge’s collection is a sculptural homage to her nomadic travels to Banaue, Donsol, and Bohol, and other places of rediscovery. From Conquistador to Carabao and Ani, from Rice Terraces to Symphony No. 9, the pieces epitomize natural forms and patinas, and the current bold global sensibilities in fashion.
TENORIO/JORGE: Filipino Specimens was especially selected by the Philippine Consulate General in New York for its The Best of the Philippines on Fifth Avenue Project which features Filipino artists and artisans who have received global acclaim for the excellence of their craft. Tenorio and Jorge’s designs will be on public view at a window display on Fifth Avenue from 29 April to 22 May, 2010. Their actual (indoor) design exhibition will be at the main hall of the Philippine Center from May 10 to 23, 2010.
As a backdrop to Tenorio and Jorge’s designs are two of the most-photographed faces in the Philippines, Piolo Pascual and Angel Aquino—both excellent specimens of quintessential Filipino beauty. Styled by Peps Silvestre and Eileen Ramos, photographed by acclaimed Filipino photographer Juan Caguicla (whose work was recently auctioned off at Sotheby’s), rendered with radial references to traditional Filipino patterns and scallop-styles are by multi-awarded fine artist Christina Dy, and curated by Isa Lorenzo of the Silverlens Gallery, the backdrop discusses a contemporary perspective of Filipino beauty, contrasting cold and harsh urban reality with elegant old-world fire.
The Filipino Entrepreneurs & Resources Network, Inc. (FERN, Inc.), maker of FERN-C: the leading brand of Vitamin C in the Philippines, supports the exhibition launch of designers Emi Jorge and Brian Tenorio in New York and shares their aspiration of capturing global markets. FERN, Inc.’s vision of tapping the entrepreneur in every Filipino is manifested in the entrepreneurial spirit of Jorge and Tenorio as they bring world-class Philippine-made products to this global fashion capital. Marking its 6th year of marketing excellence and growth, FERN, Inc. is also truly a specimen of Filipino ingenuity and drive.
With special support from the Department of Trade and Industry of the Republic of the Philippines and the Philippine Consulate General New York, Tenorio/Jorge: Filipino Specimens opened with a pre-launch party in Manhattan last Saturday, 15 May 2010. The Exhibition Gala Night is on 21 May 2010, 6 to 9PM, at the Philippine Center, 556 Fifth Avenue, New York.
For more information about the collections and event, please visit www.filipinodesigner.com.
( Published May 20, 2010 in Something Filipino Magazine p. 2 )
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