International Designer Promotes Cultural Pride

by Lizette Nolasco

An award-winning international designer born in the Philippines and based locally in Hawaii is passionate and proud to share his culture through his artwork.

Iris Gil Viacrusis, an international designer born in Olongapo City, Philippines, and based in Keaau on Hawaii Island, discovered his passion for designing at an early age through a love of art.

His childhood drawings revolved around clothing, and his career trajectory began when he was introduced to a Barbie doll at the age of eight.

He created clothing for the dolls, and his detailed work was noticed by a friend’s grandmother, who encouraged him, stating that his patience while making clothing for dolls would ease the transition into developing full-sized dresses in the future.

His career flourished, with his designs spanning the globe.

Viacrusis recreated the historic gowns and suits of the Hawaiian monarchy at Iolani Palace, designed in Paris, France, and led research expeditions curating a collection of more than 2,000 Filipino artifacts, clothing and textiles.

While pursuing a business administration degree at Mission College in Santa Clara, California, Viacrusis minored in fine arts to continue his creative passion. He went on to study fashion design at West Valley College in Saratoga, California.

A part of his early career success was at the Asian Pacific Pageant in San Francisco, where he created a singkil costume to represent the Philippines, which won the best costume award.

Following this design was another award-winning gown, a red silk dress that exhibited the weightlessness of the fabric, making the wearer appear to be floating on the stage.

“That was my first taste of it,” Viacrusis said. “All of a sudden, people got quiet, and all you heard was this ‘wow’ from the audience. That encouraged me more from there. And after a few years, I decided to go ahead and move to LA and finish my schooling at LA Trade Tech.”

The awe-inspired audience reactions served as a catalyst for Viacrusis’s burgeoning career.

While attending school in Los Angeles, a pattern teacher noticed his interest in flamboyant designs and recommended he attend Fullerton College to study theatrical and historical costuming.

Despite the daunting LA traffic, weekly trips to Fullerton became routine in pursuit of advancing his studies and passion.

At Fullerton, Viacrusis researched and created gowns in the late Victorian and early Edwardian styles.

These lessons coincidentally aligned with historical periods resonant with Hawaii’s Kalakaua dynasty, which would later help him recreate the historical pieces at Iolani Palace.

Viacrusis moved to Hawaii in 1998 and became a permanent resident in 2005. While in Hawaii, he created gowns for the Royal Court during the annual Merrie Monarch Festival and has been doing so for 15 years.

Prominent community members admired his detailed works and commissioned him to recreate the historical pieces for the palace. This convergence of historical costume training in design school and the unexpected parallels with Hawaii’s cultural heritage became an influential cornerstone in his design career.

Though he works with Hawaiian pieces, his own cultural pride is a focal point as he works to uplift and empower his heritage.

He is active in the Filipino community. He serves as chairperson for Sakada Day on Hawaii Island, the society display for the Hilo Orchid Show and the Merrie Monarch Hoike, which presents Filipino dance groups.

Viacrusis is notably the director of the Habi at Baro collection of over 2,000 textiles and costumes from 13 major groups across the Philippines.

This collection was part of a three-year-long research project where Viacrusis traveled to various communities to immerse himself in their customs and traditions.

One piece in his collection is a loom made of banana fiber from the T’boli tribe. He got to stay with the T’boli at Lake Sebu in South Cotabato for two weeks, researching weaving methods, extracting fibers and knowledge of natural dyes.

His travels allowed him to have unique experiences and learn from the locals. He received a tattoo from the grandniece of the renowned Whang-od Oggay, the last traditional tattoo artist from her generation in Kalinga. He also traveled to Ilocos to learn from Inabel weavers.

The Habi at Baro collection was on display at the Lyman Museum, the Hawaii State Library, the Filipino Community Center, the University of Hawaii Hilo and the Manoa campus for the community to view.

Viacrusis actively engages with the youth, fostering a sense of pride and instilling a desire to perpetuate the rich heritage of Filipino culture.

He orchestrates cultural presentations at schools and various events through his initiatives, showcasing Filipino designs. These events provide an opportunity for students to actively participate by modeling the intricate designs, allowing them to embody and celebrate their cultural legacy.

“I always try to tell a lot of organizations you need to encourage the young and let them somehow lead something instead of just telling them what to do,” Viacrusis said.

“You guys [the youth] have new ideas on how you want the culture to be seen in a different lens.”

The ever-energetic and vibrant Viacrusis is scheduled to participate in several notable events in the upcoming year. Among these engagements is a scheduled show in New York slated for February, followed by another event in Florida in March.

Additionally, Viacrusis will be actively involved in the esteemed Merrie Monarch Festival and the Barrio Fiesta at The Filipino Community Center. He will also continue to do cultural presentations for students, and segments of his collection will be showcased at the Hawaii State Library.

His passion and cultural pride drive him to find opportunities to share his Filipino-inspired work with the world.

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