Me Ternophosis: Filipino millennial designers reinvent the Philippine terno

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the reinvention of the Philippine terno by the Filipino millennial fashion designers. The millennial designers are those who were not only born from 1977 to 2000, but more importantly, those included in prestigious terno balls organized by media corporations and fashion establishments to promote the terno. The Philippine terno, considered as the Philippine National Dress for women, is basically composed of a one-piece dress with the distinctive stiff butterfly sleeves. The objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to trace the reinvention of the terno by Filipino millennial fashion designers; (2) to distinguish the new and relevant influences and factors that caused the changes on the terno; (3) to show the relevance of the terno in the modern world; and (4) to predict the possible terno fashion in the next five years. Key informant interviews were done with ten Filipino millennial fashion designers who make ternos and with five millennial women from different fields (medicine, education, business, fashion movement, and museum work), who may have the chance to don a terno. The findings showed how the Filipino millennial fashion designers adapt to the international trends and tastes, making use of the advances in technology to make the Philippine terno relevant. The results indicated that though these designers choose to modify the bodices, skirts, and trains of the terno, they retain what to them is the essential terno element: the butterfly sleeves. Apparently, the original meaning of “terno” that refers to having the same design or color for the upper and lower portions of the outfit has long been discarded. The fashion designers came from different educational backgrounds. Some had college degrees completely different from their present careers. Their easy access to advanced technologies and their exposure to international trends helped them explore the possibilities of their materials, as well as their design inspirations and philosophies. They make sure that the Philippine terno keeps up with the vogue abroad and at the same time promotes Philippine uniqueness, pride, and sustainability. The designers agree that in the next five to ten years, the bodice, skirt, and train of the terno could be and would be modified but the butterfly sleeves would be retained. The fashion designers thought of different ways to promote the Philippine terno such as modernizing the dress, conducting terno balls, including the study of the Philippine costumes in the educational curricula, utilizing social media, using the dress for commencement exercises, and showcasing it in beauty pageants. The women interviewed barely have different views on the Philippine terno. For them, the dress is part of the Philippine culture; it symbolizes the Philippines; and it is a distinctly traditional Filipina dress.