Lakat Sustainables, the innovative home-grown sneakers brand, has collaborated with three equally innovative artists known for their honest, unique POV, to showcase a product line at the 2024 Art Fair Philippines running February 16-18 at The Link, Ayala Center, Makati. It is open to the public.
Garapata
“I continued in my work, the garapata infestations from my house, which originated in the ’90s because of my dog. From the traumatic experience, garapata has come out in shows as a central character in street art and in galleries. The new infestation continues outside the gallery now,” explains Dex Fernandez, the artist behind Garapata, his iconic design and eponym.
In the past, there were other characters, like octopuses and elephants. “Garapata is a blank vessel with distinct characteristics depending on the narrative I want to input or convey to the audience. But basically, the garapata is simply a formula. It’s oblong with eyes, a mouth, a nose and multiple legs. I think it represents me, but also represents everyone.”
‘LakArt’ isn’t Garapata’s first foray into fashion. Garapata has been featured by French label Agnes B. and H&M Philippines. He was approached by Lakat Sustainabales’ creative director, Luis Espiritu, and liked the brand’s vision of sustainability. He also says that as an artist, he appreciates Lakat’s belief in the local industry and local talents. “Offers or proposals (like these) open a hole for me for experimentation.” He says that there are restrictions in his collaborations, but he just goes with the flow. “My process happens organically when I’m asked to do these things.”
Liliana Manahan’s sneakers inspired by bird Clarence
Liliana Manahan
“I do many things between art and design,” begins artist Liliana Manahan. “I have little bowls. I was making tabletop sculptures. I had a few fantastical animals that were like tabletop decorations. But I think my work’s anchor is drawing and my illustrations and sculpted paper.”
Manahan’s designs for ‘LakArt’ feature Clarence, a bird she began drawing during her teenage years. “During lockdown, it became a creative exercise where I had to draw something daily. I ended up drawing (him) in different situations. I did a lot of him, and all the illustrations were funny. He’s just a character that gets into many (situations).”
After talking to the people in Lakat Sustainables in charge of production and understanding their limitations, she understood how to approach the design of the shoes. “I saw that my sculpted paper and process would go well with making a new shoe design for them. So, I sculpted some paper to make the shoe’s tongue and back. The whole design is also based on my sculpted paper, and Clarence is there.”
Manahan says that with everything she does, she likes to leave the user to continue what she started. “The tongue of the shoe, you can take out. You can wear the shoe two ways; you can form your own tongue shape for the shoe. I left room for people to decorate and finish with their own expression.”
Doktor Karayom
Doktor Karayom
Doctor Karayom
“When I found out I was doing a shoe project, I said, ‘Game!’ It was new to me to design shoes from scratch. I’ve only doodled on friends’ shoes in the past,” says artist Doktor Karayom, whose real name is Russel Trinidad.
“I looked for concepts in my bank of ideas. There was an idea that if you wear the shoes, you’ll get lost in a world full of engkanto: sirens, dark beings and elves.” If you go to a place you need to become more familiar with, he says, you might not realize that there are elements that live there. According to folk beliefs, you might run a fever or suffer hallucinations when you get home. He also had these experiences as a child.
When asked if he could tone down his ideas, he says it was a challenge that he enjoyed. He fell in love with the magenta color of Lakat and decided to work with it. He laughs and says he doesn’t know if the shoes turned out “cute” because there are hands and heads, but notes that the flower designs probably balance it all out.
Karayom says that shoes can represent learnings from places you’ve been to and open your eyes to more positive things. “You can do wonderful things because you’ve worn those shoes. Your ideas could flourish and flower.”
He adds, “I also like the natural materials used by Lakat. They’re different, they’re sustainable. I was also amazed by how comfortable they are.”
‘LakArt’ sneakers will be exclusively sold at the upcoming ART FAIR 2024 February 16-18. Walk towards the fourth floor of THE LINK in Ayala Center. The LAKAT booth is located at the free admission section.
