MS\FEATURE
Rightly
Rhett
byDONNA MANIO photograph by JC INOCIAN
44 \Metro Society September2013
45\Metro Society September 2013
MS\FEATURE
Celebrated fashion designer Rhett Eala’s process is intuitive but precise—he seeks what is fun and new, and translates then into timeless and sophisticated designs
R
hett Eala is an enduring name in Philippine fashion, known for his creativity, elegance, and versatility. “I fell in love with fashion design when I was very young. I would look through fashion magazines and be in awe. I found it very glamorous. I just fell in love with it. At a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a designer. I like the creativity that goes into designing.” To the young Eala, seeing fashion spreads seemed magical, even dream-like. Now that he’s been in the fashion industry for over two decades, Eala has translated his dreams and artistic vision for both ready to wear and bespoke creations. He also designs cohesive lines for men and women, which is no easy feat. When asked if transitioning from ready-to-wear and couture posts creative challenges, Rhett simply says that “The process is a bit the same, especially in the thematic aspect of the design. I start with a mood board, focus on the colors so everything looks organic. After that, I work on the designs.” The shifts being made in the design process is never something that flusters the designer. At the shoot, Eala brings his young muse, Kitkat Rivilla, a family friend. The young lady is very much into sports, making her a befitting embodiment of the Rhett Eala woman: vibrant, active, youthful, and elegant. Being in tune with the young is also one of the designer’s strengths. He is known to make “vintage” brands current and relevant to the market again. In this arena, the designer has proven to be a tour de force. Rhett has worked with brands such as Collezione, Main Street, and Plains and Prints. Also, he works with the most unlikely sources of inspiration such as smartphones. When asked to design clothes inspired by a gadget, Eala had no qualms and produced a wearable reflection of the device. This is a very challenging creative task can only be executed without much difficulty by a talented and experienced designer. Apart from his ability to design clothes in all sorts of styles and lifestyle demands, Eala has the innate talent for breathing youthfulness into his work. Kitkat points out that Rhett attends sports events. “He watches games with us and he could be very funny, too.” Having a very dynamic lifestyle himself keeps his designs fresh. Rhett Eala also draws inspiration from art. “I’m very much into the arts, I like artists and their respective characters. I like how they have individual styles.” He is particularly fond of artists Joseph Beuys and Yves Klein. These artists delve on heavy subject matters, a stark contrast to Eala’s designs, which are all young and light. “It’s all about how approach the design,” shares the designer. It’s how you appropriate what you see.” Most of what he picks up from artists is visual, which he translates into wearable art. In the local fashion design scene, Eala likes the work of Ivarluski Aseron. Internationally, he favors the designs of Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci, Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz, and Rick Owens. “They all think of the lifestyles of the women and men they dress,” he notes, showing his practical side as a designer. Aside from getting inspiration from his fellow designers, Eala is fond of travel and credits this as a source of creative ideas. “I love London. You can go there and not worry about not understanding anyone. Plus, it’s just a really beautiful city.” Music also helps keep creative juices flowing, his choice of ear candy quite youthful as well. “Coldplay and Damien Rice are constants in my playlist. I also listen to artists such as Daft Punk and Grimes.”
44 \Metro Society September2013
Being adept at youthful and wearable design are just some of the ways the designer puts his creativity into good use. Another feat Rhett Eala has accomplished is to make the Philippine map a well-known fashion symbol. “I wanted a symbol that’s not very obvious, but I wanted it to be something Filipinos could surely identify. Also, the Philippine map has a very interesting shape.” Thus came the birth of “fashionation,” which put the image of the Philippine archipelago in the fashion map of the world. After his work with different ready to wear companies, Eala has also turned his attention to his own brand, his first after a while. Rhett by Rhett Eala was designed with the modern dandy in mind, making use of materials that are deemed atypical for menswear such as metal embroidery and beadwork. This, however, does not take away its masculine appeal and the careful structure of tailoring. For women’s clothes, Rhett has them made to order. “I have my ready to wear line, but I am also working with Ellesse Italia.” The designer is now the brand’s Regional Creative Director. He is working on another active wear line, a perfect fit. Ellesse is a stylish brand of Italian sportswear and the designer is happy to be part of its creative team. In between checking his shops and attending fashion events, he stresses that not a day passes without working on a design. “I’m constantly designing. That’s a staple for each day. I also come up with concepts.”His versatility in executing concepts makes the designer have a wide selection of muses, but for Eala, there are a few specifics. “A muse is someone you must have rapport with, aside from being able to carry clothes really well. My muses are never outrageous.” If given the chance to select a muse from any time period, Rhett picks Debbie Harry. She seems like an unlikely muse given Rhett’s aesthetics, but he explains why she fits well into the role. “She’s not a typical white girl. She’s one of the first ones who rapped during her time.” This choice shows more of the designer’s adventurous side and his inclination to finding newness, a skill that has allowed him to reinvent brands. For the shoot he puts his muse, Kitkat, in a red bespoke dress. Its lines are simple and clean; there is restraint in the placement of silver beadwork and it helps accentuate the dress perfectly. Eala’s muse says she’s not very much into fashion. “I’m more of a sporty person.” This doesn’t stop her from looking like the stunning young lady that she is in one of the designer’s creations. She and Eala poses for photographs quite effortlessly---the shoot didn’t take such a long while and was fuss-free. The master designer, in his casual clothes, is always on the go. This should come as no surprise, given all the things he handles. “I work a lot all the time even on Sundays. I do get enough rest. I’m a 9 hours of sleep kind of person. My days are different, though, depending on what’s immediately needed.” There seems to be a lot in Eala’s plate, but he juggles everything with calmness and finesse. The designer himself is quite youthful. This, too, should come as no surprise, as the man is a wellspring of things that are fresh and new---the very reasons why he is beloved in the world of Philippine Fashion.