Red Letter Day: Rajo Celebrates!

“Highly emotional” is how the designer describes his new 50-piece collection, to be unveiled in a one-night-only gala that is sure to be a red letter day for Manila’s fashionistas. Rajo Laurel says he looked back on his 15 years in the industry, and there found all the inspiration he needed to celebrate the milestone.

Rajo returns to the catwalk this week after seven years with a much-awaited new collection. Looking through the diaries and design journals that he has kept since he was 12 years old gave the designer inspiration for “Rajo Red!”

“I poured over them and picked up on the themes that triggered an emotional response,” he shares. “I translated them using various techniques such as macramé knotting, embroidery, beading, featherwork, leatherwork, and patchwork.”

The new collection encompasses everything from Rajo’s obsession with geometry and optical art to his fondness for florals and delicate organic images, while displaying the designer’s maturity, emotion, and his trademark romance and luxury.

“I am no longer editing myself,” Rajo says. “I guess I’m not trying to prove myself anymore. I just allowed my imagination to run wild. Everything in my environment inspires me – the orchids sitting on my desk, that chair in the corner – and I just go with it.”

Rajo is sure to dazzle as he pools together his love for interesting textures, vibrant colors, sumptuous fabrics, and elegant embellishments as he sends 50 pieces down the runway.

Just as his inspirations are diverse, the pieces for “Rajo Red!” range from dramatic gowns with exaggerated silhouettes to slinky ensembles draped close to the body. The prolific designer says, “I’ve always had a love for metallics… also blacks and whites… also pastels and bright colors.”

Rajo credits his young and dynamic team for helping him build the collection. He also works closely with skilled and talented craftsmen who are creating the clothes with painstaking care.

Every single piece from the collection is made with close attention to detail and construction. His daily meetings with the team consist of constant refinement and necessary adjustments. Rajo knows that in order for clothes to fit properly, the right foundation is all too important. He incorporated Maidenform’s specialized undergarments into his designs in order to get the perfect fit.

Over the last few months, he met with various key people to collaborate on certain elements for the show. Emi Jorge of Solea designed the footwear to perfectly complement the couture. Rajo had extensive meetings with hair stylist Nelson Cruz of Toni&Guy and premiere wig-maker Bergmann Hair Philippines in order to get the avant-garde look that he wanted for the show. Rajo’s youngest sister Gela, a talented makeup artist in her own right, is also collaborating with her brother for the makeup. Robby Carmona of Saga Events is directing the show.

The gala event is sponsored in part by Globe, Sony Ericsson, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Grey Goose Vodka, and Singapore Airlines.

Though the garments in his new collection are eclectic, with Asian and African influences reflecting Rajo’s penchant for travel, a distinct love for his own country is evident with his neo-Filipiniana inspired designs.

“The Filipina is a paradox,” he ponders on the modern Pinay. “You see a great assemblage of women who for me almost live two lives. One side they are fearless and enigmatic, not afraid to try new things and be adventurous,” he says. Then, pointing out that many modern Filipina brides still request that a cover-up to be worn in church be incorporated in the wedding gown design, Rajo adds, “The other side is still mahinhin and conservative. I see a return to modesty in bridal design.” Rajo is currently one of the most sought-after designers of bridal gowns.

Fusing these two facets of the modern Filipina is what fuels Rajo’s passion for designing. “This Pinay paradox is a challenge and at the same time a wonder for me,” he says. “This is why I never tire of being a designer as I meet all these women everyday.”

It is in 26 such women that Rajo has found his muses for his new collection. Dubbed “The Rajo Red Ladies,” each was hand-picked by the designer as his way of sharing his success with those who have supported him throughout his career.

“The Rajo Red Ladies are from a diverse selection of my clientele,” he explains. “They are stylish, yes, but also live their lives with purpose.”

These 26 very special women all agreed to help raise funds and awareness to benefit the Red Cross, with each Rajo Red Lady lending her time for a photo shoot by the Camera Club of the Philippines, with an exhibition that opened last August 15 at The Trion Showroom at The Fort.

“It’s my fifteenth year as a fashion designer and my sister, Venisse, urged me to celebrate the milestone,” Rajo says. “I realized it was also a good time to give something back… I have been really blessed and fortunate,” he adds on his decision to hold the event for the benefit of the Philippine National Red Cross. With the help of Rajo Red Lady Tessa Prieto-Valdes, the designer is making a sizable donation to the Makati City Branch-Rizal Chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross, to be used for disaster management services.

While his designs are colorful and diverse, Rajo chose red as the over-all theme for his collection.

“Red is an important symbol for me. It represents so many things in my life,” he shares. “It signifies life, luck, prosperity, power, hope and ultimately love.”

Rajo adds, “Love is what drives me to do what I do. I love my work!” It is this passion for craft that has made him one of the most respected – and most loved – designers in the country today.

“It’s as if I went back in time and, instead of just dreaming of the clothes, I actually made them,” he says of his new collection.

“Rajo Red!” is a celebration of the dreams of a young designer that have been realized, today, by the fashion icon that is Rajo Laurel.

 “Rajo Red!” a gala fashion event unfolds on Sept. 9, 6 pm at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, for the benefit of the Philippine Red Cross. Call Rajo Laurel at tel 895-5688 for details about the show.