As the coronation night of the Binibining Pilipinas 2017 draws near, we're already looking out for the best gowns and ensembles worn by the Binibini contestants. One of those who caught our eye is Mariel De Leon, who wore a couture gown by renowned Filipino designer Cary Santiago as her national costume.
Below, Cary documents the painstaking journey of creating the Balintawak-inspired gown of Mariel.
Cary shares with Preview, "The intricate details in making a Philippine Terno is the best tribute to our history, arts, and culture. I did fabric manipulation for this particular ensemble. All are painstakingly hand-stitched so that everything is well placed. It's made of Peau de Soie [a smooth and finely ribbed satin] fabric which makes it more challenging. With no pattern underneath, I have to make sure that the applique is correctly positioned. It's embossed in nature, and like a jigsaw puzzle, it has to be hand-sewn one by one to form the design I have in mind. It's tough but the beautiful finished product is priceless. This is a perfect testament of my love for the country."
