Qatar- Filipino designers hold dolls expo

Rare fashion dolls garbed in elaborate dresses created by well-known Doha-based Filipino designers featured at a unique exhibition held yesterday at Musherib Hotel.
'Manika: Blooms of Fashion was the second dolls exhibition organized by Filipino Fashion Designers of Qatar (FFDQ) aimed at showcasing the craftsmanship of its 15 members through the 29 elegantly dressed dolls in dioramas with stunning backdrops.
'These dolls are not those that can be bought in department stores. These are collector's items, some of which are one-of-a-kind limited edition, Mon Sarmiento, FFDQ chairman, told local media.
The exhibition follows the success of its inaugural edition called 'Manika: Dolls Enchanted held in December 2015 and is aimed at inspiring people through the designer's creativity and craftsmanship, said Sarmiento.
Ed Ocampo, a doll enthusiast and one of the featured designers, said collecting and dressing up dolls was a hobby that had turned into an artistic expression which serves as stress-reliever.
'I started collecting dolls more than 40 years ago that I have already lost count of my collection, which perhaps has already crossed a thousand, he said, adding while he bought some of them direct from factories, others were purchased online.
He said miniature dressmaking is more difficult than human scale clothing since the dresses needed to be scaled down. 'On top of that, you have to look for the proper shoes and accessories which are not readily available in the market. It's a painstaking process, said Ocampo.
Sarmiento was of the same view saying there are times designers had to improvise since some materials could not be found in the market.
'Sometimes more time is spent in searching for materials than in preparing the dress. It takes months to prepare, from concept to the final outcome and sometimes you're done but not satisfied yet so you have to recreate it, he explained. Though relatively new in Doha, collecting and dressing up dolls is generating interest in the art community.
'Actually we have invites from local lady artists to have a Doll Day, which is a convention on dolls during which we will present some of our designs, said Sarmiento, adding FFDQ is also collaborating with Qatari lady artists for another event later this year in which FFDQ members will dress up mannequins to be captured on canvas by the artists to be followed by an exhibition.
'FFDQ is the first fashion designers group in Qatar and as chairman I'm proud of the work of Filipino fashion designers here because they are at par with the best, if not the best, he said.

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