Let’s be real—as far as short weddings dresses go, not a lot of women often consider tying the knot in one. Other than the strict church dress codes, which are a given, there’s just something about a “princess bride” moment down the aisle that has many girls dreaming of wearing a lavish, floor-length frock instead.
But maybe, just maybe, it's only a matter of finding that perfect, fairytale-like tea-length or knee-grazing gown that you can proudly say “I do” in. Luckily for bride Bea Policarpio de Leon, she was able to have the short, whimsical dress of her dreams thanks to designer duo Ha.Mu.
"Bea requested for us to design and make a custom Piña dress for her special day, something that she can put on while getting ready," the designers wrote on Instagram. "She requested for it to be in a nice clean halter cut style, but [wanted us] to work our magic by playing around with retaso Piña to create flower-like details." Though the frock is only one of two of the bride’s dresses that day, Ha.Mu made sure to keep the fabric the same as her main wedding gown.
"It was an interesting process as we have never a cut like this before for our Piña pieces. She also mentioned that she wanted an easy and lightweight Piña dress that she can wear again which is why she requested for a shorter length,” Abraham Guardian, co-designer of Ha.Mu, tells Preview.
Though Pina is often associated with Filipiniana gowns, the local fiber is actually pretty malleable. Paired with a modern silhouette such as this, it comes across more youthful and flirty rather than conservative and restricting. But it’s safe to say that Ha.Mu’s playful design aesthetic is also to blame. Abraham revealed that the bride initially wanted a pencil skirt silhouette for the bottom half of the dress, but midway had it changed to a fuller skirt. The edit was practical as it was a fashion-forward choice. The dress was then completed only in a matter of weeks.
If anything, Bea’s gown is proof that you can still champion local fabrics even when you’re not a fan of the traditional terno. But that’s not to say that the Filipiniana hasn’t been a popular wedding dress choice in recent years. As seen on the countless brides who’ve gone viral on social media flaunting their proudly Pinoy frocks, and celebrities like Jess Wilson who literally wore their heritage on their sleeve when they walked down the aisle.
"I think it is very modern take to a traditional ceremony and also something that is new and sustainable since the piece can be reused over and over again," Ha.Mu’s says of their bride’s bold choice, and we couldn’t agree more.
For inquiries and custom pieces, you may contact Ha.Mu through hamubusiness@gmail.com or send them a message on Instagram.
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