2016 Product Runway: An Ethereal Design

Pagers often embody the firm’s vision of “design that makes lives better” by volunteering their skills after hours as well. The most recent beneficiary is the Houston Furniture Bank through the annual IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Product Runway design competition and fundraiser. Page raised over $3,000 for the non-profit and also brought home third place for their ethereal garment design.

This award-winning design consisted of a cloak, tunic and shorts constructed of Bolyu Contract’s Svelte floor covering, and necklace and headpiece composed of glass tiles from Daltile. In accordance with competition rules, design teams had to compose a minimum of 80% of their garments with materials from their assigned hard- and soft-good manufacturers, and also had to complete all of the construction and design of the garment themselves.  

The event this year was themed around Artistic Movements and iconic paintings, with each design team randomly assigned a movement and hard- and soft-good suppliers. Page’s look was based on Baroque art and drew its inspiration from Catholic iconography, focusing on the contrasts, layering, and drama emphasized in paintings of the assigned period.

The cloak is constructed of 352 individual fleur-de-lis motif squares lasercut from two colors of Svelte, and cleverly interlocked to minimize sewing and create texture and depth. The deep navy blue and charcoal gray colors were chosen to be similar to the luminous, not-quite-black backgrounds prevalent in Baroque paintings. For a dramatic first impression, the team constructed the cloak with a high collar and long train that ends in a point. The cloak was accompanied by a glass tile headpiece styled to resemble a golden halo, and the Pager who filled the role of model came out to the catwalk painted gold.

About halfway through the runway performance, the model dropped the coat to reveal a matching laser-cut tunic and shorts with filigree motif and gold underlay, topped by a necklace made of approximately six pounds of glass tiles on carpet backing. Professional hair and makeup services donated by Mary Ann Cantu, owner of Mariana & Co.Salon, completed the look. 

We were thrilled to see a full house with people standing to make extra room. Kudos to all the participants and to the IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter for creating such a popular community tradition. Page looks forward to competing again next year!