RAINFOREST. Spring time frocks in blue green.
“GIVING birth twice was easier,” Gretchen Uy remarked on the maiden collection she just, well, gave birth to. She debuted on a Sunday afternoon since most of her friends—young working mothers, actually—were free to model each garment, descending from the second level of District On 53rd hand-in-hand with their daughters in resembling outfits.
Twinning was the buzzword. Since Gretchen launched her own infant boutique Modern Mama (Moma, hereunto) three years ago, this is the
first time that it has released a fashion line for mothers, courtesy of Manila-based fashion designer Maureen Disini who agreed to produce a 12-piece capsule of identical mother-daughter dresses.
In respect to this relationship, cotton-weave fabric is solely utilized to enjoy full advantage of its thread indention that allows air to pass. The meticulous eye, however, can spot the idiosyncrasies among the frocks, even if each of them is girded to belong to a certain style family. Yes, the print can easily tell you about it, but the placement of details are strategic, engaging the audience to a two-dimensional visual trick.
MOTHERS KNOW BEST. The complete collection of Maureen Disini for Modern Mama
Let’s say, I hardly noticed the two bows under the Peter Pan collar of Trixie Renggli’s daughter when they both opened the runway show on the makeshift catwalk in the café because the print was already a delight. Nothing was too close to the skin, which meant extra room for movement, and more importantly, body weight issues: wide quarter-length sleeves and billowy bodices with short plackets and back pleating. Hemlines rose above the knees, enough to accommodate wardrobe options, either as a day dress or as a tunic paired with jeans.
ISLAND VIEW. The Flamingo print dresses and Peter Pan collar for these young ladies.
A slight fold of fabric on the images—pine green coconut trees and dancing pink flamingos against a turquoise blue ocean—appeared like embossed embroidery. Tropical hues reigned, teased up with a little graphic pattern here and there as seen on Holly Dychangco who was poised in my most favorite coiffure of the month: out-of-the-shower, a slicked-back bob cut. It was just as appropriate to employ the inner Carolina Kurkova spirits of real-life mothers because after all, they are the muses of the business.
“If I had a daughter, we would be in matching outfits,” Gretchen pointed out while the show was ongoing. She is a mother of two boys, ages seven and four, and like Maureen (fashion journalist-turned-designer), she used to be a make-up artist in Manila.
Married to a Cebuano entrepreneur in 2006, she relocated to Cebu, and since then, she has been allured to the island charm of our city. And she can now fluently converse in Cebuano, but with a delightful twang.
“For our first collaboration, I chose Maureen Disini because she understands women’s bodies, and she has a distinct eye for prints.
We have also addressed what modern-day mothers need. They’re no longer relegated to the house. They have careers; they have families and a life to take care of,” Gretchen said. “I love fashion, but I do not think I would be a good fashion designer or be good at whatMaureen has done for Moma. I tell you, giving birth twice was easier, but here it is. I’m very thrilled.”
Modern Mama Baby Shop is at the ground floor of Banilad Town Center.
