Ronaldo Arnaldo: Gray matter

You can spot Ronaldo Arnaldo’s work anywhere. His are the designs that prioritize clean, fluid lines more than anything else. His dedication to his craft is well-known — Arnaldo is one of the few designers who insist on creating his own patterns. His willingness to address the needs of clients has garnered him a loyal following. He is a professional who will go the extra mile for his clients as if his work was a calling rather than a job.

Arnaldo shares, “If there is anything that I’m thankful for in my career is that I’m in a generation that is caught in between the seniors and the young designers. I am lucky because I was able to blend all the mastery and expertise that I’ve learned during my early days (working as an assistant designer to Mike dela Rosa) to the edginess and aggressiveness of the younger generation. It really is an advantage to be somehow in between the best of both generations.” 

When Arnaldo was working as an assistant designer under Mike dela Rosa, he was lucky to have experienced shows from the Filipino Designers Group. Backstage he was able to closely observe all the collections from designers such as Inno Sotto and Cesar Gaupo. The two designers are members of the Golden Era of Philippine fashion. He confides that it is through studying their work where he has learned that, aside from the creativity and artistry, it is the quality of the craft that is most important. This group still sets the standards of Filipino design excellence. 

He eventually put up his own shop in Manila catering mostly to Chinese clientele. He says it was really a struggle during his first years but hard work and sheer determination to succeed helped him to continue. Over the years, he was able to gain and establish loyal clients. Still not contented with the knowledge that he has learned especially with cutting and pattern making, he pursued further studies in advanced pattern making from Shanon Pamaong (Fashion Institute of the Philippines) who just returned from Paris. After he finished all the courses, he gained enough confidence and knowledge in cutting. He decided to make his very first fashion show collection and joined the Philippine Fashion Week. The press reviewed his work as the “best collection.” Taking advantage of a good momentum, his follow up collections season after season were well-received and paved the way for him to be in the local fashion mainstream.

“My fashion mantra is everything that I create in the runway must relate as wearable for the everyday needs of the Filipina. I always go for a balanced mixed of ideas. Nothing that is too plain or basic and nothing in excess,” Arnaldo says.

His designs are a marriage of structural elements and feminine fluidity. “I always respect the female form: somewhat somehow tough but still ladylike,” he says.

Arnaldo adds, “I may say that in my years of making clothes, I’m thoroughly versed in the way a woman has learned and yearned to dress up. My designs are mostly based on the classics but with subtle twists and turns in detailing and proportions. I was able to inject youthfulness and a sense of being fashion forward.”

Details like bias trims, asymmetrical cutting and reversed proportions are forever present in Arnaldo’s collections.

“And I believe that I must give my clients the value of what they pay for so I charge accordingly,” he concludes.

 (Ronaldo Arnaldo’s atelier is located at 238L P. Ocampo Sr. Ave, San Antonio, Makati City. For more information,call 0917-525-9823.)

Photography by JOANNE ZAPANTA-ANDRADA • Models: MARIANA HENUD and XAMIRA MOHLMAN • Hair and makeup by RAZ RIMOR of Metro Salon Alabang. Cel.: 0927-757-9488 • Boots design by KINNY ANDRADA