My Passion”
In Focus
“FASHION IS
Fashion designer Len Nepomuceno makes waves in Bangkok! story by Hedda Tan photos on this page by Jose Tan
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he has dressed ambassadors of China, Finland, Sweden and the United States. Fashion icon American Ambassador Kristie Kenney wears her! Len Nepomuceno, whose designs are creating a buzz in the fashion scene in Bangkok talks to EXL about family, work and Thailand. Q : When did you start to be interested in fashion designing?
A : I have been interested in design since I was a little girl. I have a collection of Barbie dolls that I dressed. I remember re-cutting and sewing back their dresses, then at the end of the day, I would line them up and show my family a mini-fashion show. Way back in high school, I was designing - ‘dictating to my classmates what to wear’ is more like it - weekend soirees and finally, when prom season comes, I think I designed most of their prom dresses. As a professional designer today, I was tasked to design dresses for Barbie for her 50 years celebration. My designs were sold at auction and was on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My classmates on the other hand, are still my clients. I do their weddings and their evening gowns. I have always been very passionate with fashion. As the saying goes, FASHION IS MY PASSION!
A : We have excellent design schools in Manila like the SOFA (School of Fashion and the Arts), College of St. Benilde, De La Salle, where experienced fashion designers are teachers themselves. They can be excellent teachers because what they teach you comes from the heart. But I would say that fashion education is best learned through experience. Hard work is a must, and the skill within is an exceptional tool for any aspiring designer. Q : How do Filipino designers stand in relation to designers all over the world? What is our edge and our uniqueness?
A : Filipinos are very talented. Filipino designers are already carving their niche all over the world, winning international design competitions in America, Europe and Asia. Every year, we (the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines) host a young designers competition and we send the winners to compete in Paris, Tokyo and Singapore. Filipino designers have won several titles on these competitions, by using indigenous fabrics such as pina, abaca, Mindanao silk and abel iloco, which
Q : Were your parents and family supportive of your interest in this industry? A : Yes, my whole family has always been very supportive of my profession. They have never missed any of my fashion shows, and they always have a copy of the newspapers and magazines that feature me and my work. Q : You went to New York to study to have a career in designing, would you say that is a must for any Filipino designer ; to study abroad? Len Nepomuceno 11 | EXL July - August 2011
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