Thursday, April 7, 2011

Home is Where The Fashion is; Philippines

I'm sure most of you already know that I'm Filipino. I grew up in the Philippines, but now I live here in California. I do still visit my home country every year to see family and friends, and it's interesting to see the differences and similarities between the fashion industry in the Philippines, and the fashion industry here. 

I wanted to show my readers some of the most amazing fashion designers my home country has to offer 

Starting off with the famed Mich Dulce.

The designer, wearing one her famous hats. Photo credit: Mich Dulce
I started off with her because not only is she so successful at such a young age (she's only 29, and has been a well-known designer since she was 26), but she is the type of designer that I believe the Philippines will be producing in the next 10-15 years.

Her style is very ecclectic, yet modern and traditional at the same time. She's definitely showing a very strong point of view with her designs that people all over the world love.

She doesn't just make hats, she also makes custom made gowns, and bustiers (I don't think she makes a RTW line anymore, but she used to)

Photo by: Mich Dulce
A well-known fashion editor wearing one of Mich Dulce's hats. Can anyone guess who it is?


Photo by: Mich Dulce
It's Anna Dello Russo!

Her clients include both local and international celebrities such as Dello Russo, Bryanboy, Adam Ant (who wears her Napoleon-esque hat A LOT), and Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto - a band you should definitely check out) just to name a few.


Her AW 2011-2012 Hat Collection

Photo by: Mich Dulce

Her muse Ciara Sotto wearing one of her famous waist reducing corsets (Sotto had a waistline of 23 after continuously wearing Dulce's corset) that has a waiting list that can rival that of an Hermes bag. 

Photo by: weheartweddings.com
And one of her custom made gowns made for her muse
You can see more at her blog

Next is Rajo Laurel


He is a designer, a judge for Project Runway Philippines, and a blogger all in one.

He has a store in NY and is definitely making a name for himself internationally. I mean, how many designers can say that Bethany from "Bethany Getting Married" wore your dress in one of her episodes? Or that stylist Robert Verdi for choose it and presented it to a client?

Photo by: Rajo Laurel

Photo by: Rajo Laurel


Not too impressive? Well how many designers can say that their clothing has been on the cover of WWD?


Yup! That's his dress


Aside from having his own RTW Line and his collaborations with big local fashion brands, he also designs children's clothes (called Rajito)


and Wedding Rings

Photo by: weheartweddings.com
Photo by: weheartweddings.com
Photo by: weheartweddings.com
 p.s. I want both of these rings as my wedding ring!


and eggs! (ok, the last one was just a project, but I thought it was beautiful!)
See more of Rajo in his blog

Kermit Tesoro


or the Filipino McQueen as I'd like to call him is definitely a breath of fresh air for the Filipino fashion industry. His edgy style is a youthful twist on the iconic macabre theme that McQueen is very well known for.





Although, not (yet) as renown as Rajo or Dulce, Tesoro is already making a big name for himself in the local fashion industry, it'll only be time til he's making headlines internationally

I'm excited to see what else Kermit has to offer in the future!
P. S. To my Filipino readers. How can I get my hands on his shoes???

Amina Aranaz-Alunan

Now, this woman is actually a bag designer, and she already has a huge international audience because people are actually knocking off her bags! And goodness she is gorgeous! 


I've actually met her and she is a very sweet and personable woman who knows her stuff! Aside from being a fabulous bag designer and a model, she is also one of the founders of SoFA (School of Fashion and the Arts) in the Philippines




Photo by: ARANAZ Facebook


 The origami clutch and the travel suitcase will be mine!!! Must go to Manila soon!
 You can see more of her pieces in the brand's Facebook page

So that's it! Some of my favorite designers in the Philippines who I think are not only making a name for themselves, but also putting my country's name out there

The Philippines has tons more (Monique Lhuiller, Pitoy Moreno, Rafé Totengco, just to name a few) and these designers are just the tip of the iceberg! 

And a quick shout out to Burning Skies! Thank you so much for the Versatile Blogger Award! It's the first time I've ever received it! I'll do my post about it soon!!!

91 comments:

  1. wow so many amazing designs! really interesting to compare them awesome!

    http://kc-citystyle.blogspot.com/

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  2. Sweet of you talk about your country. I should talk more about mine! :) Love the hat. I'll check the name!

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  3. I absolutely love this post. It is nice to learn about the fashion of another culture. <33

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  4. the heels are gorgeous!all this designers are great!I want to go to your home country I think that it is a very beautiful place!!!Also I want to go to california!!With that weather!!and those beaches!!!XX

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  5. thanks for introducing me to her! amazing hat!

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  6. Very interesting post, I really like those pictures and the designers :)

    See you!

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  7. the bags are amazing!
    i never know the Philippines had such amazing fashion designers! thanks

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  8. Hi Sam! My turn to visit. ;-) Anyways, very timely post you got there after all the buzz in twitter over Ms. Fashion Blogger. I think she just got caught up in her Japanese Barbie Doll Tumblr world that she failed to realize we have amazing fashion talents too in the persons of the designers you featured. So nice of you to instill Pinoy pride even if you're in the States now!

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  9. Sometimes, really popular designers are just really ... weird. You have really good taste!

    seven-percentsolution.blogspot.com

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  10. this is a great post! i love mitch dulce's corsets and hats!

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  11. This post is full of the goods! My favorites are the hat photo spread and the bags!

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  12. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. Ciara Sotto looks pretty!

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  13. I love this post, it's great that you decided to do this. It makes me proud to be Filipino :)

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  14. Thanks for sharing! Her hats are amazing and how can I get on the waiting list for the waist cinching corset?? LOL Kiah

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  15. Those hats and bags are AMAZING, but a 23-inch waist scares me a bit. I think that's a little bit crazy...

    Thank you for this post! It's very interesting to see the designers from the Phillippines. I already knew you guys were super stylish!

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  16. All of these designs re gorgeous!!! She's truly talented!

    Xoxo
    Plami

    http://fashion-thrill.blogspot.com/

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  17. Great post! Following you :)
    //www.fashion-ice.blogspot.com

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  18. The second photo is great! :))

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  19. This is an amazing post!! I loved learning about these designers!! I adore Kermit Tesoro!

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  20. Wow!Amazing post, dear! I love all the hats!!so fanciful!!! Now following :) and thanks for following me!
    Love,
    Elena

    http://girlsjustwannahavestyle.blogspot.com

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  21. Great post, dear! And I do think you will look cute with bob! But your hair is gorgeous too! So, if it grows fast, you can definitly try a new haircut!

    xoxo

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  22. me encantó la primera foto!! está genial!!! jaajaj un besazo y buen finde

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  23. great designers! that is so cool that you grew up somewhere else :) im jealous!


    <3 steffy
    Steffys Pros and Cons

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  24. Amazing designs. I love this post. I love learning about fashion and designers I might not otherwise be exposed to.

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  25. Gosh I love your hot picks. Those shoes with a skull heel and the bags... amazing!

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  26. Wow, they are all so talented and I really think Philippines is going to conquer the fashion world! I especially love the hats and the bags! Amazing designers! xoxoxoo

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  27. Why do I love every single thing you wrote about here? Amazing. Especially those shoes! Wow!

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  28. Great designs! That corset is crazy! I would like it to whittle down my waist!

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  30. thanks for your comment! very cool designs!

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  31. That hat is amazing!

    x FashionFifth

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  32. great post! i'm glad you have now introduced me to so many wonderful designers. it isn't often that i like everything i see but i definitely do here!

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  33. amazing love the bags and the dresses :)

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  34. Mich Dulce's hats are so fun
    and I just love the one that she's wearing
    it's kind of like a flower, very nice
    and the corsets!!! woah
    Rajo Laurel's collection for kids is so cute =)
    Tesoro's designs are quite intersting
    and the bags by Arana-Alunan are so intricate
    thanks so much for sharing about these designers

    -Bionica

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  35. Terrific post! I'm already following :)

    www.cashmereandcandy.com

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  36. aww amazing entry! :) it sure made me proud to be pinoy! and this will also help other people to get to know philippine fashion industry :)

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  37. look at those hats! i want onew of those!
    wow, there are really some edgy filipinos out there!

    sacheebombom.blog.com

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  38. love so much the shoes! tomorrow the photos of my shopping finds in florence and the outfit photos on monday :-)
    thanks for your kind comment.
    Wanna follow each other?

    www.followpix.blogspot.com

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  39. those hats are stunning! i would love to display them in my house as art...

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  40. Thank you for your comment)

    you are very pretty girl ^ ^

    follow me? *

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  41. ok so if it weren't' for u i would never know for this amazing,beautiful and talented girl!!:)) fantastic designs,thanks for shairng!!:)
    xoxox
    http://glamfabchameleon.blogspot.com/

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  42. Thanks for stopping by my little blog. :)

    You are right, those hats are amazing!!I would dearly love to have one of them, it would add so much to an outfit.


    xoxo,
    Addie
    The Cat Hag

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  43. Thanks for stopping at my blog :)

    It was a very nice post! Keep it update
    Mind to follow my blog? ;)

    xx

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  44. Yay for the Philippines! :) My family is from there too. Such lovely designs, I really like that Mich Dulce wedding gown.

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  45. Great post!!!Love the shoes and the last bag..:)

    xxx

    Angie

    P.S:chasingkitesbyangie.blogspot.com
    Don't bother to pass by anytime..:)

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  46. excellent post, it's always great to learn about fashion from other cultures...
    i am partial the the hats, they are exquisite :)

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  47. I love those hats so much they are stunning! The crown ones are so lovely, what a talent :)
    I adore Cibo Matto too, yay!!!
    xxxx

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  48. Great post! I hope you keep up this great blogging! :)

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  49. great post, i love that b&w pic. the contrast is perfect
    ♡, Rosa T.

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  50. Lovely post! These photos are great.

    http://understarlitskies.blogspot.com

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  51. Great post! I love the designers you chose, esp. Mich Dulce. But my fave still has got to be Monique Lhuiller for her gowns!

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  52. great post! so many amazing pieces! whenever i visit another country, i always make sure to pick up a copy of their vogue or something equivalent. xx

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  53. nice blog and photos!!! really like it!! i am now following you on bloglovin! :)
    xx

    fashionbit

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  54. great ones!! fabulous post honey!

    xx

    www.sickbytrend.com

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  55. Wow amazing skull pumps!! Just love them! Thank you so much for your comment on my blog!! :D

    Kisses xoxo

    www.stylemesteph.com

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  56. love your blog chickadee! thanks for the kind words :)
    xx

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  57. Thank you for your comment! Come back when you want, you're welcome:)

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  58. woow so many designs and stuffs!! great fotos and such things O__ö i'm spechless

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  59. Thanks for introducing us to these designers! :) To answer your question, I got the labels from this etsy shop: http://etsy.com/people/rememberwynn

    She has various kinds and is great to work with! :)

    star-crossed smile

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  60. i like the photos. u hava good taste.
    i have some new burger pics. i would love to hear what u think.
    http://carlitalasvegas.blogspot.com/

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  61. I love philippines :) and such a nice post to promote your country's designer

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  62. love this post :)

    katslovefashion.blogspot.com

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  63. That's awesome to share some 'home grown' talent from the Phillipines! Rajo Laurel's dress made me look twice, that is definitely some clever pattern!

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  64. Neat post!!

    And thank you so much for your lovely comments!
    I tagged you to do the "8 Most Worn Items Tag!"

    My Lyfe ; My Story - Tag : 8 Most Worn Items

    My Lyfe ; My Story

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  65. I love everything!! But...what really got me were those skull shoes. I feel like selling every pair of heels I got just to buy those. I'm near tears. I honestly adore those beautiful works of art.

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  66. Love this post! So cool that you blogged about the awesome Filipino designers. Pinoy pride!

    <3 Paulyn from
    http://pau-v.blogspot.com

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  67. Thank you for sharing this! I'm American-born, but it's so exciting to learn about Filipino fashion designers! I especially love the hats by Mich Dulce!

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  68. adorable photos xo

    http://www.anticsofthemoon-blog.com/

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  69. Very beautiful post!!!! You look great with this hairstyle!!!!

    XoxO
    Plami

    http://fashion-thrill.blogspot.com/

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  70. Cool pictures and great blog! Please check out mine and follow if you'd like :)

    www.SimpleStyleSecrets.com

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  71. You are right with your article. So many talented and famous filipinos who are so good in their craft. Hope I can be able to meet you in person when you visit here. Best Regards!:)

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  72. wow great post! thanks for sharing! I have heard of Mich Dulce before but not the others. The travel luggage is amazing, I must get one of those when I go back too :)

    xxo
    http://iamheizl.blogspot.com/

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