Puey Quiñones finds redemption in color

MANILA, Philippines - Puey Quinoñes’ penthouse is a lot like his made-over life –– now a host for his passions, one new, one renewed. It’s a place where he can cook dishes inspired by his hometown Samar, entertain friends, design and create his next collection, and revel in his newfound peace of mind.

After a scandal that had the designer shunned by the fashion world, Puey spent most of his time inside Bilibid teaching inmates to sew and design while being filmed for the documentary Project Bilibid Runway, literally taking the cinematic road to repentance. While the finished film circled the globe, Puey spent his time building his catering project, Puey’s Penthouse, together with his business partner Andrew Rivera. He also started picking up the pieces of his first love’s ruins and designed his first collection since the incident. The result is a colorful, geometric display of what Puey now appreciates about life –– simplicity and honesty.

After over a year of getting his life back together, Puey Quinoñes is now happily juggling two successful businesses. And he still does weddings, designing for mostly for clients who are based abroad. At the private viewing of his collection, he served delicious food from his own kitchen. From his sky garden, where he entertained guests, is a view of Burgos, one of Makati’s most colorful districts. “Actually, I think I was subconsciously inspired by the fabulous Burgos girls,” Puey joked as one walks down the street.

To say that his new collection “Life is a Color” is a departure from his old ways is an understatement. Here he trades the voluminous silhouettes, crisp fabrics and neutral colors for basic silhouettes cut close to the body and blocks of bold color. “My design aesthetic has changed,” he said. “This collection is a reflection of my journey through my colorful life.”

One of the things Puey is most proud of about this collection is how he made every single piece with his own hands. “I did everything. I don’t have sewers and patternmakers and this made me even more meticulous. I can do it naman pala,” he said.

Puey’s new collection, which he revealed during a private viewing on Independence Day at his penthouse along P. Burgos Avenue, is a 25-piece homage to his new feminine, tamer aesthetic. The designer shared: “Initially, I wanted to call my collection ‘I Didn’t Know the Colors of the Rainbow.‘ Before, my designs were all black, gray and neutral colors. This collection shows that there’s nothing wrong with change, with exploration. This is me, going back to basics. This is myself saying, ‘I’ve changed but I’m still here.‘“

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For a private viewing of Puey Quiñones’ latest collection, call 0928-7309372 or 547-6155.