Patrice Ramos-Diaz perfects the look of sporty-chic

MANILA, Philippines - Women with fond memories of Patrice Ramos-Diaz’s feminine gowns still cling to her as their go-to designer. These days the mother of three boys is undergoing a transition. With the tennis racket and sneakers as her accessories rather than stilettos and a beaded clutch, it was natural for her to flex her design muscle in the sorely under-looked segment of sporty chic.

“The inspiration is sportswear. I tried to experiment with dri-fit fabric and found that it was possible to create a wide range of clothing, from sporty leisurewear to elegant eveningwear,” she says. “A lot of my friends are unaware of my interest in sports, perhaps because I look mahinhin,” says the designer, who’s been active in yoga, tennis, and golf. “When I’m not engaged in a sport, I’m usually out watching my kids’ varsity soccer practice games and golf tournaments.” So she took ideas from these activities and translated them — to great success — into a wearable wardrobe of black and gray that works perfectly from day-to-night. 

She created stretchy tops, tie-dyed print leggings, and slinky skirts that while looking loose and slouchy, still flattered with close-to-the-body cuts. She featured origami cuts, tie-died leggings relaxed casual feel but still looked fashion forward. Fabrics were dri-fit, lycra modal, and stretch pique — all moved with the body and married drape with structure. The collection is heaven-sent for fans of active-inspired designer lines, which can be exorbitantly expensive. To accompany the look, models walked easily in their white Tretorn tennis shoes — her favorite weekend shoe — proving that one can be stylish in sneakers. “We want to be comfortable, feel cool and unrestricted, stay wrinkle free, and appear stylish,” she says.

“I’ve decided to slow down on my made-to-order for now, taking a break from gowns. I’m getting quite inspired with this sporty leisurewear line because they’re the type of clothes I want to wear, and I also feel there aren’t many options yet out there in this category. It’s also a fresh challenge design-wise as well as in the technical aspect. I struggled with sewing because it’s prone to puckering, I didn’t know what material to use for lining. It requires a different type of machine and different thread too,” she says.

With the results of this exciting foray, it would be a shame to not see more of these pieces available on-demand, in a retail line perhaps? Let’s hope local manufacturers are watching.

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