Rajo: Ready for the world

People have been writing a lot about Rajo Laurel lately. Can you blame them? The guy is everywhere!

Rajo is one of the most prolific designers we know—not just a creative guy, he also has excellent PR (he is his best PR person), savvy business acumen, incredible foresight, and the support of his family.

Just go to his atelier. Everyone from his mom down to his little pamangkins are there helping him out. Plus, he’s a judge on Project Runway Philippines, and this week, he was pretty brutal! Watch out, Simon Cowell!

All this recent attention on Rajo started last month when he opened the third series of Fashion Watch Quartet, the afternoon-tea fashion show held every Tuesday and Thursday at Makati Shangri-La’s Lobby Lounge.

Forty-eight pieces from his ready-to-wear label Rajo! And the shoes! A mini-collection of pumps and flats he created for T Studio.

As if his own ready-to-wear collection wasn’t enough, he designed an entire new one for Plains & Prints’ RAF (Rich And Famous) line.

This limited-edition collection of blouses and dresses was launched the day before his own big gala. Stressed out much? Not Rajo. He looked cool as a cucumber as female guests ignored new image model Paula Taylor and attacked the racks!

But before all that, Rajo kind of upset some editors when he scheduled his press con for Rajo Red! on a holiday. We were secretly hoping it was a mistake and he would re-schedule. But noooo, we had to trek to his atelier for brunch while the rest of the country was probably just getting up, and it was not easy to get to, considering all the bakbakan, este, diggings on his street. But go we did. Friends kami eh.

Then of course the highlight, the apex, the culmination, the reason for all this buildup: Rajo Red! a.k.a. the Red Cross Charity Ball to benefit the Makati chapter.

Last Tuesday, fans and friends, sponsors and supporters donned their best Rajos and turned the carpeted grounds of Makati Shangri-La into a veritable catwalk. Sashay, shantay! And we were among them!

Two days later, Rajo was on a plane to New York to take a much-needed break. Kaya? If we know Rajo, he’s going to be at the tents on New York Fashion Week. Planning his next fashion coup? Philippines today, world tomorrow!