The realm of design is steeped in history, dating to antiquity and ancient civilizations. And — as with all art forms rooted in rich heritage — the line between tradition and innovation is often fine, drawn in the shifting sands of ever-evolving communities and cultures. As such, it can be quite challenging for the designer and artist to jump from one side of the spectrum to the other; to flow between convention and change, with ease, seeking to strike a happy balance. Visual artist, illustrator, fashion and surface pattern designer, Feanne, glides through these territories with grace and gumption — very possibly because her style is derived from the age-old iconographies of art, but highly likely because it is also driven by the to-the-minute instincts of heart.
As the creative force behind her eponymous brand, FEANNE, she crafts intricate patterns that adorn an array of canvasses, from fabric to wallpaper, capturing the essence of ornate stylized flora and fauna. Her journey, deeply entwined with Japanese culture and aesthetics, reflects a unique narrative of artistic evolution and cross-cultural confluences.
Birthing an art-driven brand
“My origin story for my brand is long and not straightforward,” Feanne (who prefers to be referenced by her first name, and no more, in work-related media) says. An alumna of the University of the Philippines – Diliman, where she graduated with a degree in Interior Design in 2011, Feanne made the leap from interior design to textile design, some years post-graduation.
After having her art stolen in 2012 (by someone who took her designs, entered them in t-shirt design contests, and then eventually sold the shirts), she realized that she could very well use her own designs to sell her own line of clothing. “The real happy ending of this story is that it got me thinking about my art’s potential for commercial applications. I figured, ‘if he can win t-shirt design competitions using my art, then I can probably sell t-shirts printed with my art’,” she recounts. Feanne also started licensing out her art a couple of years after the incident. So, while it wasn’t mean to bring her good fortune, Feanne certainly used the circumstance to her advantage.
“I started printing my art on fabric, and then getting that printed fabric made into scarves and kimonos… even if I had no training in fashion design and manufacturing, I was able to pull it off because of what I learned in interior design,” she recounts. “My own approach with my career is much less like a to-do list, and much more like planting some seeds in a garden, not really knowing which ones will bear fruit, and improving the garden bit by bit,” Feanne shares of her largely organic art and design ethos.
Thus, in 2015, a brand was born — and it has blossomed beautifully, beyond the borders of its birth, since.
Fueling creativity with fierce curiosity
Perhaps the most distinctive hallmarks of Feanne’s designs are the ornate stylized flora and fauna, for which the brand is lauded and beloved. Feanne’s exposure to diverse art forms and a deep appreciation for nature’s nuances have given rise to this signature style, one which marries the natural world with intricate design elements. The result is a stunning showcase of richly detailed prints and patterns.
“It’s just what I like. I try to follow my curiosity. Sometimes my influences are clear and easy to trace, like the historical style of Art Nouveau with its intricate details and whiplash curves. Sometimes, I just get fixated on the most mundane things, like the texture and pattern of cracks in dry soil. It’s important for me to follow my curiosity, and to keep planting seeds in the garden and see what grows.” she shares.
From traditional botanical and zoological illustrations to expressions of Asian art and the natural landscapes she encounters, Feanne’s artistic approach embodies these key influences — without necessarily being limited to or by them.
Feanne explains: “I am an artist who has a brand, rather than a brand that has an artist; I can get away with experimenting with different mediums, without worrying too much about having a cohesive brand identity. As long as the overall visual style is still identifiable as my work, then it’s alright to try creating different things based on my shifting interests.”
Crafting a cross-cultural canvas
FEANNE’s product range pivots on the artist’s versatility and vision, a beautiful balance of creativity and cohesion. Every collection comprises distinct pieces, unified by the captivating hand-drawn prints that characterize the brand. Feanne deftly defines the diversity of her collections with an all-encompassing aesthetic language — one that she speaks with great fluency. This allows each piece to complement and enhance the overall brand identity while leaving much room for playful interpretation. Her exploration of Japanese art and culture, in particular, has enriched her pattern-making and design; so much so that one will readily see the influence of customary ukiyo-e in her work. “I’m just a weeb,” she points out, using the slang term for one who is particularly passionate about Japanese culture. “I watch a lot of anime and I’m a fan of a lot of things in Japanese culture.”
This cultural crossover is particularly evident in her kimonos, which blend traditional Japanese silhouettes with Philippine-inspired designs, creating a unique hybrid that celebrates both her heritage and her appreciation for Japanese artistry. Across her collections, the kimonos and robes are typically the hero pieces, drawing the most attention.
“I love the look of kimonos, and I wanted to make them in a way that’s more relevant to my own experiences and influences. I enjoy how they look Japanese, at first glance; but they’re not the typical kimono, when you look closer. I was very flattered when a Japanese customer told me that she loved my kimonos precisely because they were unusual. I used to think that Japanese people might not be interested in something designed by a foreigner; something that they already do so well, themselves. So I was pleasantly surprised by the woman’s reaction. She took two of my kimonos home. That made me so happy,” Feanne reflects.
I love the look of kimonos, and I wanted to make them in a way that’s more relevant to my own experiences and influences.
Feanne
Marking multicultural milestones
From the initial trepidation of how the Japanese market would receive her designs, Feanne quickly found out that not only were they interested in her pieces, they were also invested in what she had to offer. The interest has grown into initiatives and opportunities in the industry, beginning with PHx Tokyo 2020-2021, a business incubation program by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in the Philippines, in collaboration with Filipina former model and fashion consultant, Tetta Ortiz, and Japanese fashion agency H3O Tokyo. “That culminated in a sales showroom exhibition in Tokyo featuring the eight participating designers: myself, BAGASAO, HaMu, J Makitalo, Jill Lao, Kelvin Morales, LORICO and Neil Felipp,” Feanne expounds. Drawing inspiration from that event, the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka sought to further Philippine design in Japan. “This resulted in Philippine Fashion Showcase 2022, which featured my and Ken Samudio’s work at Conrad Osaka,” she adds.
More recently, Feanne was a part of the successful TAYO Fashion Showcase 2023 and TAYO Fashion Week 2024, both held in Osaka. “In 2023, the Philippine Consulate General – Osaka again presented Philippine design in Conrad Osaka, featuring five Filipino designers — myself, Ken Samudio, J Mäkitalo, Kate Torralba, Pamela Madlangbayan — and two Japanese designers — Haruka Hirai and kkjk. My co-organizer, fellow designer Pamela Madlangbayan who is based in Osaka, came up with the name ‘TAYO’. In Filipino, ‘tayo’ means ‘we’ or ‘us’, and it also means ‘stand’ or ‘rise’. In Japanese, ‘tayo’ means ‘diverse’ or ‘multicultural’. Due to our 2023 TAYO Fashion Showcase, we received an invitation from Hankyu Department Store to have a popup sales event. This became TAYO Fashion Week 2024, a week-long popup at Hankyu featuring myself, Ken Samudio, J Makitalo, Repamana, and Sabotten,” she recounts.
Championing slow fashion
While she is a prolific artist, Feanne is also an advocate of slow fashion, embracing a deliberateness and thoughtfulness of craft; one that is in stark contrast to the industry’s fast-paced norms. By rejecting the pressure of seasonal collections and focusing instead on the artistic process, she honors both traditional craftsmanship and her unique creative vision. “I don’t work at the fashion industry’s standard pace. I work very slowly. Again, since I emphasize that I’m an artist, I think people understand that I don’t follow the fashion calendar. I don’t release a new collection every season. I don’t follow the seasons at all, because they don’t make sense to me, as someone living in the Philippines,” she notes.
Working closely with her exclusive stockist, Dia Guild in Malaysia, Feanne aligns with a shared commitment to slow fashion, ensuring that each of her pieces is crafted with meticulous care and respect. This dedication not only highlights her artistic integrity but also enhances the value of her creations, making them truly worth the wait. This stance mirrors Japanese sensibilities that prioritize quality over quantity, even reflecting the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty and purpose in the passage of time.
Sowing into new artistic ground
While having found fulfillment in the multifaceted realm of fabric and fashion design, Feanne’s sojourn as an artist is hardly contained within those facets. Continually, curiously sowing seeds into new ground, fertilizing them with her creativity, she has been exploring new mediums like game development. “I started doing game development in 2023 and it’s been such a fun way to express myself. I love creating my own little worlds with my art, and game development is such a perfect medium for this, too, because I can use code to make my art come to life,” she relays.
With fascination and fervor, fans of Feanne’s art watch eagerly for signs of sprouting. For those seeds, too, will undoubtedly be fabulous.
