Filipino Fashion Designers Altering the Fashion Industry

As people, we put a lot of effort into making ourselves look presentable and beautiful. As Filipinos, we take pride in the fashion that we wear. Filipino fashion designers have been around globally for a very long time. They’ve been making waves both in the Philippine fashion industry and around the world.

Fashion designers’ style are inspired by beauty from the world of clothing and creations. | Photo by Los Muertos Crew from Pexels

Just like the way we are very critical about the clothes that we are dressed in and the fashion designer behind them, our luxury homes should also take inspiration from the culture and arts of the world. Fashion designers from our country take clothing inspiration from the elegance of past and future Manila. Their brands make sure that all their creations are a perfect match to the personal style of their clients.

They craft couture elegance with the beauty of every woman in mind especially when they make inspired bridal gowns that dress women in the natural beauty of the female form.

Couture Fashion Filipino Designers

Michael Cinco

The fashion design of Michael Cinco is a testament to his talent as a Filipino designer. | Photo from Tatler Asia

This Dubai-based Filipino designer is taking the fashion industry by storm. With his evening gowns worn by celebrities like Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, he truly is a go-to when it comes to designer clothes for women.

While his business may be based in Dubai, his clients are from all over the world. His style and creations can be seen in not just Manila, but also the country of Singapore, London, and even Cannes!

He studied Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman for two years until he moved to Slims Fashion and Arts School in Manila. He trained in London and Paris in 2002. After, he then moved to Dubai to create his eponymous fashion brand name, Michael Cinco, and is now one of the top fashion designers from the Philippines.

Be it a gown or a bridal dress, Cinco’s pieces are always luxury embodied like the luxury homes of Brittany Corporation. | Photo from Pop Sugar

With Cinco’s work, we can really see beauty in every detail. From the Swarovski-encrusted gowns to voluminous dresses, he really makes sure that every woman’s dream gown is accounted for. It makes a lot of sense that his attack on design is lavish and opulent. He revels in giving out this quote according to his official website “A Michael Cinco woman is moneyed. She may not be born into royalty but she better be married into one. My clothes appear seamless. They look heavy and yet they float. They look expensive simply because they are.” This quote

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Rajo Laurel

Rajo Laurel has been in love with Filipino fashion from a young age. | Photo from Wall Street Journal

The House of Laurel was the brainchild of Rajo and his sister Venisse Laurel-Hermano. The House of Laurel bridges Filipinos to ready-to-wear outfits with the signature Laurel brand. The fashion designer was heavily influenced by his Filipino roots yet, in his own words, he shared that he aims to maintain a global perspective in his works.

Another company that uses a global perspective in its designs is Brittany Corporation. Their team of young designers was inspired by the romantic vistas of Italy, Southern America, and the Swiss Alps when it comes to luxury homes design. These Filipino designers treat their homes’ design like how Miss Universe candidates wore their evening gowns- with elegance and grace.

The architects of Brittany corporation make sure that every house they design is world-class.

The House of Laurel aims to maintain this sort of global perspective and is really changing the way Filipino designers operate in the fashion industry one fashion week at a time. To add, Laurel was a designer judge in Project Runway Philippines.

Francis Libiran

Francis Libiran is an architect and a fashion designer that brings art deco to the Philippines fashion industry. | Photo from Preview.ph

Architecture and fashion may not seem like something that you can put together, but for Philippine fashion designer Francis Libiran, it’s his reality. From creating a dress for Tyra banks to being a sought-after designer in Fashion Week in the Philippines and abroad, Francis has done it.

As a designer, he was featured in America’s Top Model 18th cycle with his Hello Kitty line. This collection can now be found in the Japanese American National Museum in LA. The looks featured everything and anything you can find in a Sanrio store from lunch boxes to bandaids.

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One of the most iconic looks in that cycle was the Kitty Lunch Jumper where Libiran made use of lunch boxes for the high fashion look. | Photo from Preview.ph

It takes great creativity to create unorthodox materials and make Haute couture out of them. One this is for sure, that the central theme is really put together well. Like the themed communities of Brittany Corporation. The thought put into the theme and the master plan of Brittany projects like Portofino in Alabang, Promenade in Santa Rosa, and Crosswinds in Tagaytay really brings the magic of the places that inspired them.

The same way Francis Libiran was inspired by Hello Kitty for his collection, the luxury properties of Brittany Corporation take imagery from the world around us. From the fanciful lifestyle of the Italians with Portofino Alabang, the laidback beauty of Southern Americas and the English Countryside with Brittany Santa Rosa, and the chilly luxury relaxation of the Swiss Alps, anyone looking for that special touch in their luxury property will surely find what they need with Brittany Corporation.

Libiran really takes the patterns and precision of architecture and translates it into clothing. Wouldn’t we all want a Libiran gown?

Mich Dulce

Dulce dressed celebrities like Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton, and Celine Dion. | Photo from Bandwagon Asia

More famously known as a milliner, a person that sells women’s hats, and a corsetiere, a woman that fits or makes corsets, Dulce does not shy away from bold bespoke pieces. A graduate of Poveda and Ateneo, Dulce does not stop at just Philippine fashion. She also dabbles in feminist activism, acting, and singing.

Her unique style marries traditional Filipino, national costume level drama, and the flair of modern Philippines. Celebrities from all over, including Anne Curtis, dressed in a Dulce original gown.

Anne Curtis wears a Dulce original in the 2019 ABS-CBN ball. | Photo from Mich Dulce

The dress is a dream in a reimagined modern terno with lavender tulle and a signature Dulce hat. Anne was a sight to behold. Her dress was a message that our national costume is not boring. It is extravagant and beautiful. It is luxury and grace. Anyone would be able to see it at once.

Dulce’s interesting take on a seemingly old design, but given another life, revamped is truly an interesting take on anything. It’s like the simple elegance of the golden hour where everything is awash with gold to make it more beautiful.

Mak Tumang

The brain behind Catriona Gray and her iconic lava dress won her the Miss Universe crown. | Photo from People Asia

Known in the Philippine fashion industry as the designer of the evening gown of Catriona Gray in the 2018 Miss Universe. He studied Theater Design and Production Design at De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde.

He shares that his love for fashion started from watching his grandmother’s skill in dressmaking. He started out designing sets and vestments for religious statues. In an article by Manila Bulletin, Mark Samson wrote, “His masterful play in working with silk tulles, lace appliques, and crystal accents display sophisticatedly daring details fit for a modern-day princess… Each creation from his atelier to fashion runway exhibits holds the signature Mak Tumang qualities–elaborate designs, intricate embroidery, and detailed lacework.”

The craftsmanship involved in every piece that he makes is truly remarkable art.

Conclusion on Filipino Fashion Designers that are Making Waves

Whether these Filipino fashion designers are creating outfits for celebrities like Ariana Grande or making extravagant dresses for Miss World or Miss Cambodia, there is one this we can be sure of. We know that the amount of thought and effort put into every piece is as immense as their collection.

For sure these designers would not be making enough waves if they didn’t put their hearts and souls into their work. Just like the way Brittany Corporation takes its time in planning and executing its developments, fashion takes time and effort.

Every Brittany home is a piece of art.

To be able to create beautiful works of art, Brittany Corporation makes sure that their team is the best of the best. From the Architects to the construction, you can be assured that all properties are of artisanal quality. This does not only speak for the way it looks, but also the luxury lifestyle that comes with it.

Brittany Corporation has the most beautiful houses in the Philippines. Brittany is the first to conceptualize and execute communities that are rich in character and sophisticated in their thematic appeal. Straddling old-world charm with modern design, Brittany’s homes are sure to deliver.

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