Islanders is a project that celebrates the lives of the people in the Philippines -Ericka’s place of birth. She wanted to portray the happy and colourful lives of the people that inhabit the Islands. She was particularly fascinated by the mode of transport that is widely used in the country - The Jeepneys. They are known for their crowded seating and decorations which have become a symbol of the Philippine culture and Art. As someone who did not grow up in the Philippines, her view of the country is different to those that have lived their whole lives there. To the Islanders, the jeepney is a vehicle to get to work, school and home. To Ericka, it is a special reminder of the diverse culture that she is a part of.
Ericka’s designs took inspiration from early traditional Filipino costumes. She used the bright colours of the Jeepneys to inform her prints and incorporated the colours with the use of panels to create dimension to her work. Her pattern work has integrated both traditional block shapes with complex stand work as well as complex areas of cutting. Ericka has adapted the shoulder and sleeves to create big, bold silhouettes that are similar to those on the stand. She has used the mens block to inform the shape for both man and woman.
Her design journey started by collaging together the bold colours from the jeepney to create a print. Ericka had experimented with the use of geometric shapes from the vehicle, much like the artist Kazimir Malevich, whom she has used as one of her main inspiration for her print work. She then transferred these prints onto the mannequin and explored the di erent ways of using the shapes and colour to create a strong and exciting silhouette. She has not only used print to inform her work but also used the bright colours and geometric cut over the print to create depth and layer in her work.
