Fashion designers now offer 1-year course, offer scholarships

FASHION Arts Business Creatives (F.A.B. Creatives), a school set up by some of the most prominent Filipino designers, will soon be offering an intensive one-year program with courses ranging from sewing and design to merchandising and entrepreneurship. And for those who can’t afford the fees but have the talent, the school has also opened several slots for scholarship students.

“We noticed that a lot of people who inquired about certain workshops found our fees beyond their financial capacity. We thought that among them might be very talented individuals who could be [the] future leaders in Philippine fashion,” Jojie Lloren, fashion designer and founder of the school, told ����ý via text message on July 12.

Mr. Lloren and his peers including Jo Ann Bitangcol, Rhett Eala, Ivarluski Aseron, Jun de Leon, Joyce Oreña, Dennis Lustico, Pidge Reyes, Lesley Mobo, Jackie Aquino, Inno Sotto, and Mich Dulce to name a few, began offering short courses and workshops in 2017 and it was successful enough for the team to create a year-long program.

“When we started, we only offered workshops [and] there was quite a number who availed. Now, we want to mentor individuals who we really can call our products,” he said.

The year-long, comprehensive course starts on October and includes classes like introduction to sewing, the creative process, fashion draping, designing a fashion collection, portfolio making, and elective courses like fashion writing, and fashion and product photography.

“Our workshops are taught in a non-traditional classroom format, where students benefit from a truly enriching experience as class size is small, allowing for personalization and direct mentoring. In the same vein, we believe in making learning fun and practical, developing individual creativity and productivity amongst all students,” the school’s website read.

“Ultimately, we want to provide a venue for anyone who wants to get into the fashion industry,” it added.

Applications for the scholarships are being accepted until Aug. 15 and Mr. Lloren said that the number of scholars would “depend on how many among the applicants are truly deserving of the scholarship. If we find a lot, then we allocate a certain number to each academic year.”

“It will be a good opportunity for us to enable them to attain their dreams of a successful fashion career,” Mr. Lloren added.

Interested applicants must be Filipino citizens and residing in the Philippines, must be 18 years old and above, and must at least be a high school graduate.

Scholarship requirements include a 2×2 photo, contact details, birth certificate, and a motivation letter in 400 words or less stating the reason for application, how the scholarship will help the applicant achieve their goals and why they deserve the scholarship.

The requirements can either be e-mailed to [email protected] or submitted in a long brown envelope addressed to F.A.B CREATIVES Scholarship Program 2019, 3/F Paseo Tesoro Building, 822 A. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.

For more information on the scholarship, visit . F.A.B. Creatives is located at the 3/F Paseo Tesoro Building, 822 A. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City. — Zsarlene B. Chua