SoFA Design Institute co-founder Loralee Baron-Soong’s philosophy to design is simple and tested. “Good design is one that is appealing, functional, and sturdy; not only must it be beautiful, it must serve its function as a product, and be of quality,” she shares. Seeing how this vision is shared by emerging Filipino designers, she wanted to provide them with opportunities to study fashion right here rather than needing to go abroad.
Continuing to develop the Philippines not only as a fashion capital but also as a design mecca, Loralee understands that appreciating the fashion industry doesn’t stop at simply admiring the collections. It’s about looking at the business aspect as well. “It was a very enriching experience for me to travel the world’s fashion capitals (New York, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong) regularly to view the latest collections and meet with luxury brand representatives to learn how they would market their brands.”
She takes cues from the international scene to forward the local trajectory. “It is in this same experience that I’ve come to appreciate the unique identity and potential of Filipino design and saw the opportunity to grow Filipino talents through establishing a specialized design college. This would eliminate the need to go abroad and pursue studies in design, empowering Filipino designers to grow their brands in the same standard as those abroad,” she believes.
With this, she is positive that fashion, design, and creative talent will not only be limited to its initial borders. “Creative thought is actually essential to almost any field! it’s always important, even if you’re working in a desk job, to find a solution that is creative.”
Source: Meg Manzano for Red magazine, “School of Thought,” June 2015
Photo by Artu Nepomoceno