MANILA, Philippines - Kathryn Bigelow is the toast of womanhood today for her amazing accomplishment in filmmaking, but for the past five decades, there has been another female icon who has inspired little women everywhere to be whoever they set their minds to. The diminutive Barbara Millicent Roberts, Barbie to most of us, has donned suits, uniforms, dresses, and gowns that span different careers and professions in all her 50-something years. Now, she plays muse once again for a major project that ties up fashion with dance.
Ballet Barbie is art in support of art — fashion in support of the performing arts, particularly ballet. “It is the collaboration inspired by two different but essentially connected worlds, to benefit the heart and soul of Ballet Philippines, which are its scholars and dancers,” said Ballet Philippines president Margie Moran Floirendo during the Ballet Barbie press conference last March 9 at the Manila Peninsula. “Through this collaboration, Ballet Philippines will hold an auction, and we hope to raise as much as one million pesos for the Ballet Philippines scholarship program.”
As one of the cornerstones of Filipino culture, the dance company has always worked at promoting the importance of and appreciation for the esteemed dance form, bringing ballet closer to the public through performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and by fostering young dance talents regardless of gender and economic status. “We believe that art centers people, and it’s sad that it does not get the support it needs,” Moran-Floirendo continued. “By combining fashion with dance, the Philippine fashion industry and Ballet Philippines is helping art recuperate.”
Participating in this project are 42 fashion designers who came up with exclusive designs for the 200 dolls: Pepito Albert, Aureo Alonzo, Jerome Ang, Ivarluski Aseron, Avel Bacudio, Vittorio Barba, Alex Bitong, JC Buendia, Mitzi Quilendrino-Bustos, Louis Claparols, Auggie Cordero, Dong Omaga Diaz, Patrice Ramos Diaz, Rhett Eala, Joel Escober, Ramon Esteban, Veejay Floresca, Tan Gan by Solenn Heussaff, Cesar Gaupo, Katrina Goulbourn, Len Nepomuceno-Guiao, Sassa Jimenez, Gerry Katigbak, Rajo Laurel, Brian Leyva, Jojie Lloren, Jerome Lorico, Dennis Lustico, Pitoy Moreno, New Yorker by Tina Lirag, Tippi Ocampo, Randy Ortiz, Frederick Peralta, Eric Pineda, Puey Quiñones, Barge Ramos, James Reyes, Mike Dela Rosa, Joey Samson, Carey Santiago, Eric delos Santos, and jeweler Hans Brumann.
A preview of the designs was presented during the Ballet Barbie press conference, with designers Jojie Lloren, Dong Omaga Diaz, Alex Bitong, James Reyes, and Pitoy Moreno telling a little about the work that went into their Barbie couture creations.
Lloren collaborated with other artists from different disciplines in bringing his designs to life, each one based on a literary or theatrical piece. One of them is Juliet (of Romeo & Juliet), on whose sweeping bustled train is written a tragic love poem by writer Carlomar Doana. Lloren’s other co-collaborators are artist Pidge Reyes for Odette (The Swan Lake), painter Ivi Avellana-Cosio for the Babae Barbie, and artist Ral Arrogante for the Dulcinea (Don Quixote de Cervantes).
James Reyes created an all black collection, which he says is his tribute to villainesses. In dramatically cut gowns adorned with sequins and black feathers, Reyes’ Odielle Barbies — the darker halves of every Odette — have been styled at the H Salon of Henry Calayag, their blond hair wrapped in elaborate black turbans.
Alex Bitong’s Tatiana, inspired by the fairy queen from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, embodies winter in the designer’s four seasons collection. “I used about four yards of cloth in making her gown,” he reveals, pointing to how Tatiana’s conservative bodice flows into a full nest of silver ruffles.
It took two and a half months for National Artist Pitoy Moreno to craft the piña baro’t saya for his Barbie. Taking a page from Maria Clara’s style portfolio, Moreno used real sea pearls to adorn the elaborate patterns of his creation. Everything is handmade, from the delicately laced veil to the scalloped and embroidered hem of the saya.
A special set of dolls wearing little black dresses is from Hans Brumann, whose jewelry served as statement-making accessories. An example is “Coco’s” four-carat tourmaline belt, which can be worn as a ring in real life.
The rest of the couture creations are as varied as the participating designers’ aesthetics. From Bridal Barbies to Riri-like and Gaga-esque dolls, the Ballet Barbies are proof of the designers’ excitement to design for a global icon and of the immense creativity and handiwork that went into this collaboration. It was not only the gowns and dresses that were meticulously attended to, but also the dolls’ total look: the Barbies had been sent to hair stylists for their hairs to be bobbed, curled, streaked, shagged, teased or turbaned.
All of the designs will be officially unveiled at the Ballet Barbie Auction and Exhibit on March 17, 6 p.m., at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila. “We’d like to give as many people as possible the chance to own one of these one-of-a-kind dolls,” shares Ana de Villa Singson, a Trustee of Ballet Philippines. Hence, bids will start at P6,000 for the short dresses, P8,000 for the long gowns, and P10,000 to 11,000 for the multi-media designs.
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For information on the Ballet Barbie auction, call Menchu Mantecon at 0918-9425118 or e-mail menchugonzalezmantecon@yahoo.com.