Spanish bridal brand makes its mark in the PHL

“Deciding on a wedding gown can be stressful,” says Khristine, who will be walking down the aisle in November. “There are so many details to consider—details I have to attend to personally, because it is the gown of my life.”

And while Khristine has an ideal wedding gown in mind, she says that “it is still nice to have options and to fit dresses until I find one that will make me go ‘wow’.”

So our bride-to-be goes to Rosa Clara with the hopes of finding The One—gown, that is. Rosa Clara opened two years ago in the Philippines, so far the only Asian franchise of the Spanish atelier.

“Rosa Clara is usually the first and last stop for Filipina brides,” says owner Valerie Villar-Zayco. “First because most of our clients come here when they are just starting the process of choosing their gown, and last because we have catered to clients who are not pleased with what their designers have come up with and are forced to buy a rush gown instead.”

Brides with gown emergencies can choose off the rack, with the Rosa Clara team making adjustments for her.

The usual process, though, starts with the bride selecting a dress. She is then measured and fitted, after which the gown is sewn and beaded in Spain. She should expect delivery in four months. Should there be adjustments needed, the local branch has in-house dressmakers trained by Rosa Clara Spain to do the job.

For that kind of service, expect to shell out anywhere from P40,000 to more than P100,000, depending on the style, material and beadwork. Zayco suggests customers be “honest with their budget,” assuring brides that “there is always a wedding gown to match your funds.”

Walking inside the store should excite any bride. Its bridal gowns range from the avant-garde to the classic. Zayco says that the store doesn't technically have one best-seller design. “This shows how every bride is very unique,” she says. “That’s why it is important that we present them with much to choose from.”

Rosa Clara has collaborated with big names before, including Karl Lagerfeld and Christian Lacroix. Recently, it collaborated with Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad—who has dressed celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Taylor Swift—to create a special capsule collection of eight wedding dresses made from 100-percent natural fabrics.

The brand introduces a new collection annually, with almost 200 designs in each collection. For 2014, it is inspired by a wistful vibe, relaxed lines and unique embellishments reminiscent of dresses in the 1920s. It's going for lots of delicate lace, voluminous yet light tulle, heavy imperial fabric, and layers of silk. And while there are no strictly dictated trends for wedding dresses, the house of Rosa Clara feels that the brides of this year are geared towards the soft and feminine.

And just because a wedding dress is ready-to-wear doesn’t mean it’s not as special as a bespoke gown, says Zayco. “The dress always transforms once the bride wears it.” — BM, GMA News