BRAVO, RHETT!

How do you measure the success of a fashion designer? By the pages of interviews and pictorials he gets before and after a show? By the number of fashionable socialites, the high and the mighty, who attend his gala shows, some of them wearing his creations? By the number of fashion awards he reaps? Maybe yes. And maybe not.

Yes, if he has paid his dues after years and years of dedication and concrete proof of talent and craftsmanship. Yes, as in Nolie Hans, Auggie Cordero, Joe Salazar and Inno Sotto, who can very well feel smug and do any crazy thing they wish, because nothing else can diminish the status they have earned. No, if much of the hype generated by a designer was simply that – all hype and no substance.

But I am here to talk about something more refreshing: today’s new breed of fashion stars who share certain traits. They are humble, unassuming, very transparent, intelligent and, most of all, gifted with true talent. They are not much into socializing, perhaps because they would rather devote their energy to working in their shops. Names like Jojie Lloren and Ignacio Loyola come to mind. And Rhett Eala.

Educated in Hong Kong (high school), Florence (textile design) and New York (Barneys was a good source of education), Rhett is the no-nonsense artist who declares he is not into anything that’s theater. "I’m not after my ego. I’m after my clients’ hearts."

Rhett says he wants to create clothes that are accessible. "I really love my work. If I’m happy with my collection, that’s all that matters. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone."

His 11 years at Rustan’s as a bestselling RTW designer for the Due label have proven that he knows what it takes to please his clientele. Now on his own as a ready-to-wear designer still doing made-to-order clothes, Rhett recently presented his latest collection in a fashion show at RCBC Atrium co-sponsored by Metro Magazine – and it was a wow.

His ponchos, tulle skirts with sequins, embellished slip dresses, and bustier tops were received with loud applause in a setting so intimate and relaxed, there was nothing contrived about the whole presentation.

For this show, Rhett clearly presented just clothes that are simple with a lot of detail. "I didn’t want to present anything based on a place or a period. I would say I just wanted to create a mood, a romantic collection."

With young woman of style Cindy Yang as his business partner, Rhett now offers his latest collection at Wink at Glorietta 3 (with another opening at Rockwell’s Power Plant by December). In a wink of an eye, his clothes, priced from P495 and up (for RTW separates and dresses) to P9,000 and up (for the gowns) were selling fast on opening day, and seen in cafes and events.

And that, for me, is the real measure of a fashion designer’s success. When you see his clothes, not just being modeled in publicity spreads, but being worn by people in the real world.