Neng Cordero, sister of the late Auggie Cordero, Mark Higgins (center), JJ San Juan of TheDiarist.ph, during the turnover of Cordero magazine collection to Slim’s (Photo by Thelma San Juan)
All photos by Thelma San Juan
A part of the vintage magazine collection of the late fashion designer Auggie Cordero has been donated to Slim’s Fashion & Arts School, the foremost institution of fashion learning and training in the Philippines founded by National Artist (Fashion) Salvacion Lim Higgins more than 60 years ago.
Label on Auggie Cordero magazine collection (Photo by Thelma San Juan)
The turnover of the hard-bound magazines dating back to the ‘70s was done by Cordero’s sister Neng to Mark Higgins, the acclaimed artist and son of Salvacion and head of Slim’s.
Cordero, who passed away on Oct. 21, 2022 at age 78, from acute respiratory complications, was a pillar of Philippine fashion. For four decades, he dominated Philippine fashion, along with his peers, in what would become known as the Golden Age of Philippine fashion—the ‘70s to the ‘90s, when fashion designers created and innovated against all odds, especially scarcity of material, to discover and grow a market. From design to fashion shows here and abroad, they developed a veritable industry and the story of Philippine fashion that would inspire the generations after them.
Stack from Auggie Cordero magazine collection
Cordero was known for starting trends based on in-depth, if not scholarly, knowledge of fashion icons, movies, and pop culture. He was known for his collections of magazines from the ‘70s to recent years (including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Italian and French editions) and collectible coffeetable books on fashion and the biographies of fashion legends.
Cordero was known for starting trends based on in-depth, if not scholarly, knowledge of fashion icons, movies, and pop culture.
Mural representation of sketch by Slim’s graduate Joe Salazar on corridor wall of Slim’s
Hallway of Slim’s Fashion & Arts School has the iconic sewing machines. (Photo by Thelma San Juan)
Now a few of the magazine collection are in the hands of Slim’s, the alma mater of such fashion icons as Joe Salazar, Cesar Gaupo, Joey Samson, Michael Cinco, Oliver Tolentino.
Mural sketch by Cesar Gaupo, a famous graduate of Slim’s, on the corridor wall at Slim’s (Photo by Thelma San Juan)
Priestly vestment design by Gang Gomez (now known as the Benedictine monk Dom Martin) on the corridor wall at Slim’s. Gomez was a famous graduate of Slim’s
Mural sketches by Joey Samson on the corridor wall of Slim’s. Samson is a famous graduate of Slim’s.
Cordero’s art collection will also go on the block this month at Salcedo Auctions’ Well-appointed Life. Cordero didn’t hoard artworks like he did magazines and books. Instead, he acquired only special ones through the decades, such as BenCab’s Death Mask of Ninoy Aquino. He also had works by Zobel, Romulo Olazo, Chabet, among others. The special preview or vernissage is on Sept. 15, 2025 at Salcedo Auctions, NEX Tower, Ayala Ave.
1975 issue from Auggie Cordero magazine collection
The magazine donation to Slim’s is auspicious. The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde has acquired the heritage collections of Slim’s and will continue the creative legacy of the fashion school. The ceremonial signing and turnover of the school will be on Sept. 4, 2025 at the CSB.
The National Artist medallion of Salvacion Lim Higgins on display in the office of Mark Higgins at Slim’s
Mark Higgins’ office at Slim’s
Corner in Mark Higgins’ office at Slim’s bears contemporary art.
Higgins has always been steadfast about the legacy of his mother in fashion and fashion education. He told TheDiarist.ph: “The mission of Slim’s school has always been to teach the most technical and in-depth curriculum of pattern making and garment construction possible. The same with fashion design, a well-rounded course and in-depth curriculum. So when graduates walk out the door they are thoroughly equipped to start their own bespoke business.
“Today, we remain consistent with our core competence of highly technical courses in Fashion Design, Patternmaking and Bespoke Tailoring.”
