Two hot takes on crochet
If there was a common thread linking the designer-led collections presented last weekend at Bench Fashion Week, it was a predilection for texture. It could be seen in model-turned-entrepreneur Ria Bolivar’s crocheted collection for her brand Reveri. It was also apparent in the crafty set by stylist Roko Arceo for his Maligaya Clothing Co. Like her, he came up with a crocheted set, but his were made of old and discarded table runners and place mats that he dyed and pieced together.
The instantly recognizable Bolivar—she with her razor-sharp cheekbones and piercing stare—has been crocheting for several years now and is a regular in the Katutubo Ph pop-ups organized by Bench and Mons Romulo. One can imagine the model working on a piece while waiting for her time in the makeup chair or for a show to start.
Bolivar, who’s based in Iloilo, works with women and students who crochet the items based on her designs. She rarely strays from repeating patterns, stripes in particular, but has since gained a following for her pieces that have a casual vibe and can be worn as coverups at the beach.
That afternoon, several people proudly wore their Reveri items they had bought off the rack at Katutubo. Director Robby Carmona paired his roomy, striped cardigan with a white shirt from Maligaya, while Romulo donned a cropped pink and red striped jacket that looked snazzier, more pulled together.
For her first ever fashion show as a designer, Bolivar played around with embellishment, sending out a crocheted corset worn tight over a white long-sleeved shirt, short frocks with tassels that swung to and fro, and an asymmetrically-cut dress with dotted with corkscrew “curls.” She tapped a husband and wife to create the oversized shell-shaped totes that hung over some of the models’ shoulders.
Her open jackets and cardies were still there, but this time they gave off a more Missoni-like vibe with stripes that were subtler, more considered.
Is Bolivar considering retiring from modeling altogether to focus on her business, which allows her to be more creative while providing work for women and students? The answer is, not anytime soon, as she was back at BFW the next day as a model to open the collection of Dubai-based Cebuano designer Furne One.
Sustainable collection
Roko Arceo’s set was a treat for the eyes and a push for sustainability as he reimagined crocheted fabric remnants with a set that started with white pieces before giving way to a burst of color.
“I used retaso from previous collections to make this one,” Arceo said. He augmented this with discarded household linens, carefully cutting out the still serviceable parts and dyeing them to his specifications. The dreamy, well-edited collection showed what Arceo could do with material that some might not even think twice about tossing into the trash. It helps that he’s a stylist who can see things for more than what they are.
Short dresses with uneven, trailing hems fluttered as the models made their way down the runway. There were button-down tops that were worn open and came in sunset shades of burnt orange and violet. These were paired with loose pants crafted from what looked like cotton ticking fabric, traditionally used to cover mattresses and bed pillows.
In a statement posted on the Maligaya Clothing Co. Instagram, the collection was described as “[painting] a vivid and joyful universe—one that embraces the art of staying buoyant amid the chaos of today’s fast-paced world.”
Reveri by Ria Bolivar is on Instagram @reveri.crochet. Maligaya Clothing Co. is on Instagram @maligayaclothingco.
