Wazzup Pilipinas!
The independent experimental and emerging local brand HA.MÜ, known for its up-cycled deconstructed garments, textured patchworks and thread-works, and distinct play on colors and layers has seamlessly blurred the lines between fashion and artwork.
After years of defining its avant-garde characteristic in show pieces and unique RTW collections, the trademark found its new stage in the Paris, France, the home of among the finest art and cultural venues showcasing some of the world’s greatest masterpieces.
HA.MÜ joined the impeccable line-up of over 50 visual artists, creators, fashion designers, tattooists, and musicians from Dhaka, Lagos, Mexico City, Tehran, and Manila at the City Prince/sses, a three-month exhibition that presented an imaginary and complex city made up of unpredictable and thought-provoking artworks housed in Palais de Tokyo in the City of Lights, one of the largest museums dedicated to contemporary art.
Design duo Abraham Guardian and Mamuro Oki, the creative geniuses behind HA.MÜ, both finished Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
The past years have been as exciting as their astounding pieces, due to being a crowd-favorite at their graduation and epilogue show, unveiling their first RTW childhood-inspired line, launching spring/summer ensembles at the 2017 Philippine Fashion Gala, showcasing their distinct pieces in the acclaimed Manila Fashion Festival, surprising the industry with a series of otherworldly ensembles from their Mama! Mama! There are monsters under my bed Collection presented at the Bench Design Awards 2018, to gracing local and international fashion magazines.
For their first international exhibition, HA.MÜ specially conceptualized and produced Mama, mama I feel quaint, a 10-piece collection that served as visual representations of emotions in limbo, the thin line between the lack of joy and sadness. “Some emotions are better left unsaid and untouched because it either goes away or it just gets chucked into the corners of our minds. We acknowledged that they are there and it could bother us but it does not necessarily want us to talk about it,” they shared. “However, sometimes, the only way to face our inner demons is to see it at another point of view or perspective so we can tackle the things that bother us the most.”
The vibrant and interesting pieces undeniably showcase the designers’ signature experimentation with silhouettes, textures, and prints. However, for this time, they put off the concept of wearability and fully embraced clothing as artistic expression. “We just focused on our own processes as designers, which are very messy in a way. We are doing purely fabric sculpture, which really defines HA.MÜ,” they stated. “It does not necessarily have to be wearable all the time. We also like to challenge the idea that fashion is also a form of art – but in the form of movement.”
Despite marking their own style with the local industry, the design pair admitted that the Paris exhibition came as a surprise. “It all happened in a flash. We did not believe it at first because it was too good to be true. The entire experience was very magical and eye-opening because we were in another environment – an international scene where arts is relevant and part of the people’s lives,” they beamed. “Being able to present our works as Filipino artists also meant that we could exhibit the talents and skills we developed from our own home grounds.”
Also represented the Philippines together with HA.MÜ were award-winning artists to include Dina Gadia, Pow Martinez, Dex Fernandez, Urban Decay Planning, Leeroy New, Timmy Harn, and Rasel Trinidad (aka Doktor Karayom).
HAMU in Paris Photo Captions:
Note: All taken at the City Prince/sses in Palais de Tokyo in Paris, France
I feel left out by HA.MÜ
Too much thoughts, help!!! by HA.MÜ
So much weight pulling me down (front, back, and detail shots) by HA.MÜ
HA.MÜ creative duo Abraham Guardian and Mamuro Oki, who both finished Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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