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6 Designers You Should Know in 2019
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When it comes to homegrown designers, Cebu has no shortage of them. With 2019 looming over our heads, we take a look at the designers whom you should absolutely know—and whose pieces you should get your hands on for the upcoming year.
NEIL FELIPP
If you don’t know Neil Felipp’s name by now, you must have been living in Bantayan the last 2 years. Neil’s celebrity followers who wears his minaudieres keep growing. He has created so much buzz particularly after a mention in Kevin Kwan’s Rich People’s Problems, the 3rd in his book series of Crazy Rich Asians, that he is almost like a celebrity himself!
It’s easy to see how Neil got in the business — he comes from a family of fine art engravers. On his mother’s side, he is a Suarez and in Cebu, this is synonymous with Suarez Brothers, noted for their quality metal works like class school rings, medallions and nameplates. After college in UP he ended up working with Kenneth Cobonpue for three years. Getting exposed early to metal works, it is easy to see how his clasps are always exquisitely twisted and manipulated that they are art by itself.
Siren navy in blue parchment minaudiere
Sakura Dark Water in grey parchment
Heart of Atlantis
WHO WEARS THEM: Gretchen Choa-Uy Carla Yeung-Mckowen Christine Dychiao WHERE TO GET THEM: neilfelipp.com PRICE RANGE: PHP10,000+
MIA ARCENAS
A graduate of Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, Mia honed her skills early at her mom Iris’ costume jewellery export business, Ferimar. Working with different materials and colours for specific clients in Europe and the Middle East, this early education left a strong impression to the young Mia, and it has manifested in her work. Less monotones and more vibrant — she produces beachwears that all the titas in Cebu love, bags and bangles, hats and chunky neckpieces. Mia is the poster girl for Cebu island living!
These days, she is more in Manila with her husband Jacques Branellec although her manufacturing is still in Cebu. She is also kept busy with a collaboration of vintage denim jackets embroidered with the artworks of Solenn Heusaff and her sister Vanessa Heusaff for their collection called Lahi (meaning race in Tagalog and different in Bisaya!). The travel jackets are so fashionably hip and truly Filipino that clients wait for months for these bespoke items to be delivered.
WHO WEARS THEM: Solenn Heusaff, Matteo Guidicelli, Anne Curtis WHERE TO GET THEM: miaarcenas.com.ph PRICE RANGE: PHP6,000+
D’ORO BARANDINO
D’oro has been around for sometime, but don’t call him old school! Nikki Minaj was seen wearing his crumpled brass cuff recently, and he is preparing to send pieces to Europe where he is represented by a prestigious lifestyle brand based in Paris. D’oro’s work have evolved through the years, from visual arts, to furniture to home design. He has a degree in architecture from the University of San Carlos, and this discipline has formed his strong visuals which are always bold and sculptural. His latest collection, inspired by blades are elegantly minimal and yet whimsical, forming strong statement pieces.
The Enzo clutch and the Ethan cuff
Art-deco neckpiece
Cuff inspired from stainless steel razor blades.
WHO WEARS THEM: Hollywood celebrities— Nicki Minaj, Ajiona Alexus (13 Reasons Why movie), Kimmy Gatewood (Glow of Netflix), Vbozeman (Empire TV show), Odette Annable (Supergirl Series), Alex Hudgens (TV Hosts), Essence Atkins, Stacy Ike (TV Host) WHERE TO GET THEM: dorobarandino.comPRICE RANGE: PHP8,000+
LIANE ABOITIZ PE˜NA
The mother of two toddler boys, Liane is more in Manila than Cebu these days. But in this world of online shopping it doesn’t matter where you are. She is still home-grown though, having spent her formative years in Cebu. A graduate of FIDM in LA (same as Mia), Liane’s jewellery pieces can easily go from daytime to night life.
With the breakthrough debut of her website and several pop-up stores this year, Liane’s label Flora Magica is fast gaining traction not only among women who lunch, but the younger set who loves to pair them with jeans or sarongs for a quick and easy up-look. It is easy to see how Liane can produce this pieces — her design inspiration, in addition to her mom Bernie and her abuela Ching Montinola, is her group of friends whose taste sensibility runs from the Italian Riviera to the beaches of Cebu and Siargao. To this end, she uses mother of pearls, seashells, semi-precious stones and coral combined together to form statement pieces or laid back chic depending on what you pair them with — stilettos or flip-flops.
Model wearing Bali Hoop Earrings
Amazon Earrings in Ocean Green and Rose
WHO WEARS THEM: Nellie Egle, Pilar Streegan, Maryann Arculli WHERE TO GET THEM: shopfloramagica.com PRICE RANGE: PHP6,000+
REI ESCARIO
After attending London’s prestigious Central St Martins (Alexander McQueen’s alma mater) patternmaking course on scholarship as part of PDI’s Look Magazine and the British Council’s initiative to support promising local artists, Rei honed his talent further in his brother Jun’s busy workshop. Rei’s clothes have that sculptural touch that make them look trendy and new, but at the same time, clean and classic. He’s keen on ensuring that they’re wearable and comfortable. His designs are versatile and have walked runways to red carpets to pageant stages to aisles at a wedding.
