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Hollywood Insider: Pinoy designers shine at Los Angeles Fashion Week
Los Angeles — At the Los Angeles Fashion Week, we were proud to see three Filipino fashion designers showcase their works.
Kenneth Barlis showed at The MacArthur, while Pia Gladys Perey and Michael Leyva had theirs at the Neue House Hollywood.
Meet the three designers:
Kenneth Barlis
Kenneth Barlis is a young fashion designer who has a creative vision and dream and is pursuing it passionately.
Only 29 years old, the gracious and humble designer was born in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Although his showroom is in Claremont, San Diego, the indefatigable designer travels all over the U.S. and outside the country to participate in a number of fashion events such as the New York Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, Toronto Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, Barbados Fashion Week, to name a few.
Kenneth’s style can go from avant-garde and fun, to romantic and elegant. The first time we saw Kenneth’s creation was when Dr. Tess Mauricio, America’s Favorite Dermatologist, opened her clinic in Glendale wearing an elegant black gown made by Kenneth.
When we met him, he looked like a kid out of high school and we just could not believe that he was the one who created that beautiful gown.
Kenneth attended the prestigious fashion school, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in both San Diego and Los Angeles, where the likes of fashion designers Monique Lhuillier and Alan del Rosario graduated.
He was three semesters shy from graduation when he dropped out to set shop and establish the Kenneth Barlis brand.
Unknown to many though, Kenneth is also a Biology graduate preparing for medical school at U.C. San Diego.
READ: Meet Ken Samudio, the Filipino designer whose earrings Drew Barrymore kept wearing
We have watched more fashion shows by Kenneth in Los Angeles and the one thing we admire about him is he is not scared to be himself and to be original. We always believe that one has to follow what’s in your heart and Kenneth, as an artist and a fashion designer, does that.
We saw Kenneth’s fashion show at The MacArthur during LA Fashion Week and he surprised us again with his new collection for both men and women.
Kenneth described his new collection, “The new collection is inspired from an effortless elegance of royalties. With this collection, I used brocade fabric in different patterns and prints. I mixed it all together, as well as the floral hand cut silk chiffon with a very meticulously hand beaded work to complement and create the Royalty Collection.”
He added, “This is the first time I infused the classic street wear and my whimsical style in one collection. For instance, I highlighted a fully beaded bomber jacket that could be used as a daily wear but made it in a very couture way by adding meticulously hand beaded work. It is a classic look with a Kenneth Barlis twist!”
Kenneth’s clothes have already been worn by celebrities like RuPaul, Timbaland, Laura Marano (“Austin & Ally”), Meg Donnelley (“Teen Toon,” “American Housewife” “Zombies”), Kendra Wilkinson (“The Girls Next Door,” “Kendra”), Vanessa Marano (“Gilmore Girls,” “The Young and the Restless,” “Switched at Birth”), Matt Lanter (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and a number of Disney and Nickelodeon stars and many more.
Pia Gladys Perey
Born and raised in Tagaytay, Pia Gladys Perey is now wowing Hollywood, thanks to her designs that can make any and all women feel sexy.
Her clothes have been worn by Hollywood celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Carrie Underwood, Olivia Wilde, Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian and Camilla Belle (“Rip Girls,” “Back to the Secret Garden”).
She is known for her elegant, feminine and romantic classic Grecian drapes that's friendly to women of all shapes, sizes and colors can wear.
The nice thing about her clothes is that you can wear them for many occasions, are easy to pack for travel, it is no-nonsense but will still make you feel elegant and feminine.
Pia explained her new collection: “This collection is different because as we are celebrating our 10th anniversary. We are on the last leg of the launch of our shape campaign which started last July in Sydney, followed by New York Fashion Week in September last year. Then here in Los Angeles through LA Fashion Week.”
In Pia Gladys Perey’s Fall-Winter 2018 presentation, ultraviolet, pine, dark blush and gold shine while rich hints of wine and ivory become embodiments of opulence. Classics and staples are rendered in pleated lamé and silk jersey, imbuing them with a vibrant richness and languorous style that make the pulse race faster.
Lean and clean silhouettes are imbued with premium details by way of Pia’s trademark feminine fold and flow.
Pia continued, “This collection also marks the launch of my haute couture line which I have been wanting to do for a long time. We partnered with Pili Ani skin care which is also made in the Philippines and supports farmers who are land owners of pili. They have been featured in Bloomberg, InStyle and Women’s Wear Daily magazines.”
The soft-spoken designer added, “Since the Her Royal Highness Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark is coming to the Philippines at the end of April to promote the shape campaign, tourism and foreign affairs, we will be doing a fundraising for a women's group whose goal is the same as the PGP brand which is women empowerment. We are still in talks with this group but Princess Theodora wishes to do this.”
Michael Leyva
It was our first time to see the collection of fashion designer Michael Leyva and we were impressed.
The Tourism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) displayed his potential to reach greater heights with his intricate beadwork designs, flowing ball gowns, dramatic trains and very feminine romantic gowns.
You could say that Michael became a fashion designer by “accident.” He narrated, “My brother, Brian Leyva, is the one who started fashion designing. He graduated at Benilde. He was designing for five years already then he passed away. I just continued what he started.”
Born on October 22, 1989 in Antipolo City, the young designer is now considered one of the most promising designers in Manila.
Michael got his formal fashion training under Jojie Lloren in 2012. From then on, he became one of the favorites of Manila’s elite. In 2016, he pursued fashion designing at Central Saint Martins in London.
Aside from having shows in Manila and Los Angeles, Michael has also presented his collection at the Canada-Philippines Fashion Week.
He described his collection as “inspired by the stars. I am a fan of details. I love shiny, glittery and embellished works. I want to be known as a designer who dresses up his muses who, on the other hand, will feel beautiful every time they wear a Michael Leyva piece.”
