interview by dennica pearl worrell


I interviewed Kirsten Relegado, an artist and entrepreneur about the abundance of inspiration Philippine native design brings to her work  from textiles to artistic approach.


Dennica: How does Filipino culture influence your work?

Kirsten:  In the place where I grew up, in Bacolod city the City of Smiles - we have a Masquerade festival by the way. I was raised in La Castellana, a small town where bananas are very abundant. We have over 100 species of bananas growing there, so people there are really incentivized to celebrate our crop at the beginning of the world. I think it's amazing to create something from such a beautiful organic plant.

Dennica: What types of eco-friendly materials do you use?

Kirsten: I use banana bark, coconut shells, Abaca, and I reuse and recycle fabric as much as possible

Dennica: What parts of the banana plant are used for the fabric?

Kirsten: We use the banana bark. We scrape out the fiber for threads, to create a costume or wardrobe. I designed a gown once for Ms. Puerto Rico when she competed for Ms. International. Our inspiration for her costume was the “Rainforest of Puerto Rico.” We used banana bark materials, abaca, and coconut husk which is also abundant in my region. She won best in national costume that year.

Dennica: Do you extract the fiber from the banana bark yourself in your studio? How do you work with the material?

Kirsten:  We have the raw material sent to us. My mom brings over the raw materials that are cut and dried from La Castellanas to Miami. When I run out, I can try to make it here since we can also grow the banana plant here.

D: Can you describe what it is like to work with the abaca material?

K: When you work with abaca threads and you want to bring color to it, you have to dye it more than once. It’s like a woven fabric.

D: Is it versatile to work with? Can it be translated from casual to formal?

K: I love the fabric because the aesthetics are nice. You see the natural texture of the abaca which has a woven look to it. After it is processed, it which gives an off-white color. I’ve made a corset from this material, and I absolutely love it. You can combine it with pearls, coconut shells, and other various natural products.

Coconut shells are a bit hard to manipulate because you need a special kind of machine to cut it. I work with ready materials in my studio.

D: Do you have any favorite native textile patterns?

K: Pina. We have new materials available in our country, but the pineapple fabric is the best for me. All you have to do is line it with silk, and it is so wearable. If you wear a Pina gown, or a man wears a Barong Tagalog, it suits a tropical climate. Pina fabric for men is similar to our tuxedo.

D: What was your experience like designing for Druscilla Gucci? How did you decide what style direction to go in with her dress?

K: Drusilla is my good friend and like a sister to me. I was invited to have dinner with her family. We supported Charities in Miami. She walked during the finale and modeled my designs. Stefania said I would like you to design a white gown for Drusilla’s 21st birthday.  I showed the sketch to Stefania, I called it the Goddess gown and I used soft and flowy materials showing her shoulders. Drusilla got the same size as my mannequin. I ended up making two gowns for Drusilla.

D: What is the story of how you got started designing gowns for the pageant world? Could you describe the style of the first pageant dress you designed?

K:  I dressed my friends in a mock pageant when I was 6 years old. I wrapped them with blankets. I made one sided or criss cross sleeves with floor sweeping tail.  I called them one by one to walk on top of the bed.

When I moved to Miami, Florida, I met the director of Miss Miami Tropic, Miss Rose Martinez, 16 years ago. She referred me to her delegates competing for Miss USA and Miss America. My very first pageant designs were featured during Miss Florida, USA,  I dressed 6 delegates. The gown that made it to top 15 is made of white, doped dyed chiffon materials, one sided strap, soft and flowing skirt with one sided high slit.

D: What are some examples of luxury materials that you use for your couture gowns?

K:  Custom made embroidered and hand beaded lace with crystals, real pearls and diamonds.

D: What is your favorite dress that you have designed so far?

K: All my dresses are my babies.  there’s one very special I custom made recently for New York Times best seller author, Roshani Chokshi. She flew me to Atlanta and showed me her book cover and requested me, “Kirsten, I want to wear my book! “ 

D: When people see your work, what do you want them to think about? 

K: A Filipino-American designer. My heritage is very important to me. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I want to incorporate our cultural values like hard work ethic, and compassion. On my travels to New York, I see my people working so hard, and I admire them even more. We have so many positive traits that mold us into a Filipino people.


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