MISSING the things that the virus has taken away — parties, live events, even being seen barefaced — brought more than a thousand viewers to Facebook Live last week to watch Rajo Laurel: Runway Online, a live fashion show by designer Rajo Laurel. This was done in collaboration with Robbie Carmona, founder and CEO of Saga Events, the events company which staged the show.

Prior to the pandemic, the company staged many high-flying events, but obviously, things are set to change. “The events industry has always brought people together: to share beautiful stories, create unforgettable memories, and form meaningful connections,” said Mr. Carmona in an introduction. “In order to keep this human connection alive, we must continue to inspire and be inspired. We must continue to harness creativity and support one another.”

The clothes had been worked on by Mr. Laurel six months before, forming a collection called Hacienda. The designer was inspired by the province of Batangas. “It is my happy place. This is where I find peace and solace. Where I take up new endeavours such as gardening and hiking. It is a collection that celebrates clean air, songbirds and sunshine,” said Mr. Laurel in an e-mail to BusinessWorld.

According to Mr. Carmona, the show was planned after model Ria Bolivar sent him a post about designers going online for the pandemic. Inspired, he called up Mr. Laurel and asked him if he was ready to do a fashion show on his birthday (May 19). The show was staged two weeks after the phone call.

The planning wasn’t all light and birdsong, however: clothes were sent to the models — along with detailed styling instructions — to model at their own homes. Hairstylist Jing Monis and Mr. Laurel’s sister, makeup artist Gela Laurel, made video tutorials so the models could do their own hair and makeup. “We then gave the models specific instructions on how to prepare themselves for the show. We also asked them to shoot their runway walk in specific times of the day to have consistent lighting,” said Mr. Laurel in an e-mail. “It was a testament of patience, fortitude and love.”

The clothes showed an airy lightness even in more structured selections like a wide-lapelled jacket, thanks to the choice of very enviably breathable fabrics, in a palette of nudes, pastels, and dusty colors. Mr. Laurel says the collection had been in preparation a few months before the pandemic, but one can see how fashion really does serve to show in which direction winds blow: there were shorts suits for men, with a springy, light cropped jacket which are perfect to use for work-from-home meetings. The loose fits on dresses suggest casual airs, but details like pleating and suiting elements still have a patrician flair to them.

Mr. Laurel said about doing a show remotely: “Given our current circumstances, this was one of the ways we could continue telling our stories and sharing our talents. Safely, without compromising anyone’s health. It is not the most ideal way, however, for now this is the best way we can connect with our colleagues, friends and clients.”

To be fair as well to the show, it achieves something a live show cannot do which is to suggest the context where the clothes may be worn. This is seen in an airy paneled dress a model used to walk down a tree-lined street, suggesting a quiet life away from it all, while the fabric around her was blown lightly by the wind.

“One has to be pragmatic given these challenging times. Practicality is now on top of mind. This experience is an opportunity for all of us to begin, to start strong,” said Mr. Laurel.

Changing times call for changing ways, and we asked Mr. Laurel if virtual shows might be the way to go for the future. In the months and weeks preceding the coronavirus wave that hit Italy, some designers had already told their audiences to stay home and instead streamed their shows. “There is something spellbinding with a real runway show,” said Mr. Laurel. “However, for now this is how we must proceed,” he said. “The virus is still out there, and without a vaccine we cannot go back to our old ways. However, nothing will replace a live fashion show. This experiment is one way to do it. However I know that there will be other formats that our young designers will think of and execute in the most magical ways.

“Fashion is the language that we choose to express ourselves in and our industry speaks it so fluently. We do this all for love and that is why it is very special.”

The collection can be viewed at the House of Laurel’s Instagram page @houseoflaurel. A portion of the proceeds from sales of items from the Hacienda collection will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross-Makati. — Joseph L. Garcia

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