Rina Silayan-Go: Designer, woman, mother

IN THE male-dominated world of fashion, women designers are now creating a niche. Today’s woman is a multi-faceted persona and who could possibly best create clothes fit for the modern Filipina than a woman herself.

Thirteen years ago, Rina Silayan-Go saw the need of women who juggle careers and homes and many other interests for a wardrobe to suit their active and evolving lifestyle, outfits that are simple yet chic and could be mixed and matched throughout the week, for different occasions and different needs.

It is for this woman and countless others like her that the Viseversa chain of boutiques was set up in 1989.

"A woman doesn’t stay home anymore," Rina says. "She could go to a yoga class, a movie, a coffee shop or a music bar. There’s just so much more activity and places for her to go."

Thus, her clothes reflect the ease with which a woman should be able to slide into each of the roles she plays in her life, whether a corporate executive, mother, friend and lover or as a party girl. This explains the sporty touches in her tops, skirts and pants as well as the ruffles, bell sleeves, off-shoulder cuts and other eye-catching accents in her designs.

"Viseversa," she admits "is for the woman who specializes in multi-tasking."

Today, juggling fashion design with operating her store’s branches in SM Megamall, Rustan’s Makati, Alabang, Cubao, Harrison Plaza and EDSA Shangri-la Plaza, Rina has another very significant role in life–as mom to seven-year-old daughter Nicole.

On top of her busy schedule, the hands-on mother drives her daughter to school, reads her stories at night and is her travel companion of choice when she spends weekends with her family in either Tagaytay or Subic.

"We sleep together, sometimes have lunch out, just the two of us. Sometimes we have a parlor day, watch a film, go bowling, swimming," she shares.

"Nothing comes between me and Nicole. Everything takes the backseat," she emphasizes. "You know, there was a time when I didn’t know if I could handle everything, but Nicole’s grandmother, Ces, told me that if I made my daughter the priority, everything else would follow. And it’s true. She’s the basis for everything."

Her being a parent also influences her design as she now better understands women who take care of children and families. Her very own wardrobe moves from parent-teacher conferences to grocery, from movies to weekend wear and travel. Using only comfortable fabrics, she also creates clothes that won’t quit even on a very busy schedule.

"I guess I’ve gotten to understand the needs of a woman and it has influenced the kind of clothes I come up with," she reflects. "What looks good and what doesn’t, what to highlight and hide, how to make them look perennially young."

This early, Rina says she can’t tell if her daughter is interested in fashion design. But she’s definitely growing up surrounded with magazines, and hangs around the stores and watches her mom fix the displays.

But young as she is, Rina explains that she relates with her daughter as a friend. "I make time to go through the day’s events with her and rarely make decisions for her without asking her how she feels. We also do our evening prayers together and go through the day’s activities and the people and things we should be thankful for."

Rina believes that the greatest gift she can give Nicole is to grow up with confidence. She’s also big on discipline, manners and good values formation.

As a designer, Rina says she can spot her creations a mile away and she’s always pleased whenever she catches someone wearing her clothes. An even bigger thrill "is when I can tell what year the clothes were made." For this issue’s photo shoot, Olen Lim and daughters Yishay and Miakka wore Viseversa apparel, which truly captured their beauty, innate sense of style and busy, multi-tasking lifestyle.

For the various opportunities that came her way to express herself in her designs and the chance to transform it into a business, Rina will always be greatful for two other things in her life –being a woman and having Nicole in her life. –Eden E. Estopace