Escario redoes ’80s glamour

You don’t need an incantation to cross the threshold of Jun Escario’s atelier. No matter what shape you are in, he will have a gown specially designed for you. At first glance it seems that his outstanding gowns are only for the young and reed-thin models who walked his clothes down the ramp during the Metro series show last Monday – bare backs to below the waist, slits till kingdom come, draped slinky bodices – surely you would have to be a Raya Mananquil to carry off his creations with élan!

After talking with him backstage, Escario assured me that his creative abilities have bigger dimensions than his underweight supermodels. He invited me to check out his atelier in the Greenbelt area to show me that women of all ages and sizes can look good in an Escario gown.

"My clothes are sexy but never gauche; they are sophisticated but not eccentric; they are embellished but not flashy," he explained to me. To prove his point, he showed me a tastefully designed chiffon gown made for a mature woman who has more flesh than bones. It was flowing but unstructured so as not to emphasize the waist and hips. Even a mature, heavy woman can look chic in his designs, he states emphatically.

Escario started his career in Cebu, his hometown, at age 19, where he was a part-time designer for a Cebu-based exporter. Then he moved on to become the full-time designer of En Sepia, the premier fashion house in Cebu. After a short stint with them, he decided to put up his own store, which he called Bacchus, a name that signifies love of life and living well. Cebu’s fashionista crowd flocked to his shop, establishing him as Cebu’s most sought-after fashion designer.

In December 2001, he joined the Concours International des Jeunes Createurs de Mode in Paris and emerged as one of the five finalists. He also won a special citation from the French judges for Best Philippine Designer for a stunning piece made of pleated paper, silk threads, shell beads and copper medallions.

Why did he venture into unknown territory, joining a contest where he could have failed when he was already so established in Cebu?

"Designing for my Cebu clients became formulaic. I wanted a creative challenge; I wanted to push the limits of my imagination without having to think of whether my regular clients would like it," he says. He went on to explain the difference between designing for a client and for competition. "The former requires discipline and caters to the client’s needs; the latter requires a creative spark, an inspiration, a rekindling of passion to create something that is both creatively and personally gratifying."

His desire to broaden his horizons prompted him to look for a satellite shop in Manila. Escario invited OJ Hofer, another nationally recognized Cebu-based designer to become his business and design partner. The partnership was to specialize in made-to-order formal clothes and bridal wear. They opened their workshop and showroom at the LPL Towers on Legaspi St., hiring Australian interior designer Simon Miles to design a chic fashion salon that Manila’s fashionable set would love.

Escario’s Manila atelier opened in January 2004. In two short years, he has established himself as one of Manila’s sought-after designers with his signature brand of sensuality, sophistication and elegance. Cebu’s loss is Manila’s gain!