This Korean designer from Pampanga made a lantern-inspired dress out of screen door wire and hanji

An enchanting gown that fuses two cultures into one was among the top 10 designs featured in De La Salle – College of St. Benilde’s (DLS-CSB) annual “Sinulid: Epilogue” art exhibit.

For her piece called “Oriental Fusion: Bloom,” 23-year-old designer Grace Cho created "a collaboration of installation art and fashion design" using unconventional materials like screen door wire and "hanji," which is a special paper used in doors and windows of traditional Korean houses or "hanok."

Cho was mainly inspired by the traditional Korean hanji lantern, as well as the transitional windows and doors of traditional Korean houses called "chang-ho."

However, she also drew inspiration from the traditional Capiz shell windows here in the Philippines which she likens to chang-ho.

"From the architecture view, the idea resembles each country and clearly shows the purpose of my collection, to shed light on the heritage and culture of the Philippines and Korea," she said.

Cho's parents moved to the Philippines at a very young age, and her graduation collection "Oriental Fusion" is a "reflection of the adversities I had to overcome in finding a balance between the two cultural identities who have helped shape who I am today."

"My main inspiration when creating my collection was to shed light on the heritage and culture of the Philippines and Korea, while making it a point to combine elements that would both highlight and complement the two countries," Cho said.

In an interview with GMA News Online, the designer shared that it was not that easy to complete her collection, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing her to move her work station from Metro Manila to her parents' place in Pampanga.

Still, it was her family who helped her complete her exhibit piece just in time for Sinulid.

"In the end, you'll achieve what you want because, if you're really passionate about what you're doing, it will eventually come to you," Cho said.

The young Korean-Filipino designer, who now has a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and Merchandising degree from CSB, is set to conquer the international fashion scene and continue creating beautiful clothing under her brand La Grace.

"Living as a young immigrant in the Philippines, I also learned to trust that any obstacle can be overcome if you remain resilient in the face of failure. It is the epitome of finding balance between two cultural identities," she said in her design rationale.

La Grace by Grace Cho features a mix of traditional Korean and Filipino clothing, materials and embroidery patterns. Check it out on Instagram. —JCB, GMA News