Nono Palmos: romances the fabrics of Panay
Nono Palmos
If dance is a paean to God expressed in movement and music is an entreaty contained in rhythm and harmony, fashion is perhaps the embodiment of thanksgiving. In its most sublime forms and make, garments emulate Nature's bounty—colors and prints copy the brilliant hues of creation, silhouettes take off from organic shapes, and design inspirations obtain motivation from natural occurrences—be it the elements or the changing of the seasons.
Recognizing the potent power of fashion to evoke the essential and primal, and tell an arresting narrative, haute couturier Nono Palmos turns his attention to his island home of Panay to tell a timeless story of passion, sacrifice and redemption—all told in the art of haute couture. Located in right in the heart of the Visayan chain of islands, Panay is an island rich in culture—conspicuous in its myriad festivals, its rich languages, and its quaint tribal customs. This lively culture is also best expressed in the island's indigenous weaves that have survived mechanized technology and the onslaught of imported fabrics.
Since time immemorial, while the men looked after the fields and the livestock, it was the women of Panay who took over the handlooms and with great diligence, started a way of life expressed in the warp, weft and ingenious insets of fabrics of great beauty and delicacy. So prolific were the women of Panay that this once insular activity confined to quiet, sleepy villages became communal livelihood. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the fabrics of Panay gained fame throughout the country and in the distant colonies of the Spanish Empire.
Palmos is a staunch supporter of handwoven fabrics. "Handweaving forms the backbone, not just of an industry, but also of a way of life and culture of Panay. Its history dates back to the dawn of civilization in the Philippines and thus, duly chronicles our native creativity, our way of life, our dreams and aspirations. We cannot let the handweaving industry just die," he said.
Using his own proficiency in textile design and manufacture, Palmos, with the help of Miagao Mayor Geraldo Flores, started a campaign to help revive the weaving of hablon, his town's own indigenous fabric. Starting in 2000, he began helping weavers update the hablon by combining the native cotton used primarily in the weaving of the fabric with other fibers. Palmos likewise introduced newer, more interesting color schemes to help enrich the palette being used in the weaving of hablon. The result is astounding: hablon that is more malleable, softer and in more refreshing hues.
"I realized that for these local weaves to survive, they must be relevant to the times. The younger generation should be able to use and appreciate these fabrics. If our native hablon or piña remain stiff and outdated, we should just as well limit them to the making of costumes that have no relevance to today's dressing dictums and styles. We have to make hablon, piña and the other fabrics sophisticated enough to be able to express new design schemes, styles and fashion whims," reasons Palmos.
His bid has also taken Palmos to centers of weaving in Kalibo where he convened with local weavers to open up their minds to new fiber combinations. The collaboration paid off as Palmos started to create new piña-based fibers such as piña lambo, piña bulak, salinghabi, tatlong hibla, piña seda, katha and kislap seda. These fabrics have, more than winning countrywide attention, have also won raves in international expositions abroad, specifically in the UK, Belgium, the US, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Korea. These days, Palmos counts foreign dignitaries and international business figures as some of the staunchest admirers of his creations using these newfangled fabrics.
Clearly, Palmos is single-minded in his pursuit to put a 21st century spin on the fabrics that have shaped the lives of countless people. To help step up awareness of these fabrics and their inherent versatility, Palmos is set to unleash his creative genius in a forthcoming show in Iloilo City.
To be held in Punta Villa, Iloilo City on Feb. 29, 2008, the fashion exposition will showcase Nono Palmos' high-end resort wear, haute couture creations and bridal finery featuring some of Manila's current top models.
The event is being produced by the Iloilo Producers Association (IPA).