Salut to Renee

Gail Banawis shimmers in gold. Photos by Elton Lugay

By Elton Lugay

Whoever said Renee Salud is as dated as AOL hasn’t seen the latest from the seasoned couture designer.

At a March 9 “In Focus” fashion show-dinner dance, Salud’s collection showed intricate embroidery, brilliant color blends and new ways of wearing the traditional terno and barong Tagalog.

“His creations are ageless,” Deputy Consul General Tess Dizon de Vega told Salud-wearing fans and other guests at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in New Jersey. “They are classic, they are iconic and continue to push the boundaries of design.”

Pilita Corrales’ “Dalagang Pilipina” played in the background as sultry models and members of the community paraded Salud’s cocktail dresses, evening wear and elegant barongs.

The butterfly sleeve was reinterpreted in different ways – from the traditional mitre-shaped type made famous by the infamous Imelda Marcos to the more flowing unstructured type of arm garment.

“It’s the 21st century,” said physical therapist Stevenson Van Derodar. “Fusion is the new trend, and Salud’s combination of pop and classic is simply ‘culturally hip.’” He thought the detachable sleeve was “genius.”

Cosmetic doctor Alicia Almendral said the collection was “classic and different.” Nena Kaufman, chair of NaFFAA in New York, said the gowns were “very classy.”

Eleanor de Leon, the wife of the consul general — she wore a blue Salud terno that night — used the word “fabulous.” No wonder, Renee Salud is one of the best designers in the Philippines, she told The FilAm.

De Vega used the occasion to plug the Save Act bill meant to revive the Philippines’ textile and apparel industries. The bill is awaiting more sponsors before it can be filed in the U.S. Congress.

“Your support for events like this that show the best of Philippine design is part of a collective effort to really push Filipino talent to the forefront of the world stage,” she said in her remarks.

Salud followed that up with his own push saying, “Our indigenous fabrics are indeed world-class.”

The show was organized by Red Lantern Ventures, LLC to raise funds for the following beneficiaries: the St. Joseph School for the Blind in New Jersey, the Laurel Memorial District Hospital in Batangas and Faldef’s community projects.

New ways with traditional Filipiniana.

Organizer Luchie Vivas rocks the traditional terno.



One Comment

  1. M. Matthews wrote:

    Another cool fashion article with photos by Elton Lugay about Filipino fashion icon Renee Salud. Bravo.

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