Fashion designer Kenneth Barlis celebrates his 10th year in the business with a bang

LOS ANGELES – The first time I met Kenneth Barlis was when he was just a fresh graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design Management (FIDM) in San Diego.

He designed an elegant black gown for America's Favorite Dermatologist Dr. Tess Mauricio when she opened a clinic in Glendale and when I found out who the designer was, I was just floored that it was a young new FIDM graduate.

Ten years later, Kenneth's creations have now been worn by Hollywood celebrities, he has done fashion shows in Europe and the US, he has joined Bravo's Project Runway Season 19 show as one of the featured fashion designer contestants, and now, just recently celebrated his 10th year anniversary in the fashion business.

This San Diego-based 32-year-old creative genius was born and raised in Zamboanga. He found his niche in fashion at a turning point in his life at the age of 17. He started his own atelier, Kenneth Barlis, 10 years ago, with a fashion voice that is clean, modern, bold, and sophisticated. Most notably, he has an extensive list of famous clientele including Carrie Underwood, Khelani, Offset and more.

In 2018, he launched his KB School of Fashion, where he started training models for pageants and runway shows. From Los Angeles to New York, from Paris to the Philippines, he has taught hundreds of young men and women that, through hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.

In the past year, Kenneth has been busy creating KB masks to donate to local hospitals in San Diego and to raise funds for those who were affected by the pandemic. Ultimately, Kenneth's artistry reflects the story of a thousand Filipinos who have dared to dream. He aims to make fashion accessible not just for the who's who, but also for everyone.

Kenneth's line of clothing is a collection known for highlighting body positivity as well as gender inclusivity. The fabrics are handpicked as well as customized to ensure the highest quality and sustainability of each product.

Photo: Kenneth Barlis

Established in 2012, Kenneth's brand is motivated by its artistic, imaginative, and modern design. It has been worn by musicians, influencers, and A-List celebrities on the red carpet, magazine covers, concerts, and music videos.

In 2015, Kenneth expanded and debuted his men's line. It has the vision to create a lifestyle that goes beyond the traditional men's fashion. His men's collection has been seen in Paper Magazine, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Billboard Magazine, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, among others.

In 2019, Kenneth launched his first bridal collection. It has the idea of bringing the modern fairytale to life. Kenneth's wedding gowns are alluring, delicate, and luxurious.

His collection is now available in Melrose Ave Los Angeles, and San Diego California.

We were able to interview Kenneth by email in between his busy schedule.

Congratulations on your 10th anniversary in the industry. What do you feel is your biggest achievement in your 10 years in the industry?

I would say my biggest achievement is having a full house and a sold-out collection for my 10th year anniversary show.

How many pieces were there in your anniversary collection and how long did it take you? How would you describe your collection?

My Spring/Summer collection is very inspired by the traditional Filipiniana. This collection has a total of about 100 designs and it took me about six to eight weeks to create them all.

What made you decide to include two other fashion designers – Cora Castillo and Katie Kortman - in the show? Can you tell us more about them and how your friendship developed as Bravo's Project Runway Season 19 contestants? How would you describe each designer's style?

Those two designers also hold a big place in my heart because during Project Runway participation, I was in a very vulnerable place and they were always there for me so I wanted to share this experience with them. My experience during Project Runway became more fun and memorable because of the friendship that I made with them. This is my way of expressing gratitude to them for all their help during Project Runway. Coral's style is very dark and edgy while Katie's style is the complete opposite. It is full of life and colors.

Putting up a show like that is a big production. How long did you prepare for such a show? Can you also please mention your special performers and hosts?

Because of my hectic schedule it took about two months to prepare for the show. The reason why the location was the Port Pavilion is not only because it is a big and beautiful space but also because that is where I held my very first fashion show of my career. In total, we had about 50 crew members to help run the show. Our hosts for the event were our local FOX5 news anchors Maria Dunn, and Phil Bauer. For our entertainment, we had Enzo Morals, Katriz Trinidad, Marvin Calderon, and drag queen superstar Paris Quion.

Where do you get your inspiration for your designs?

I take inspiration from many different places depending on the season and the trends but most of the time, I find interesting silhouettes during my travels, from movies, going to museums, watching Broadway shows, as well as music videos.

Photo: Kenneth Barlis

I have seen some of your modern take on the traditional Filipino terno and the use of pearls on your suits. Can you please explain more about these designs?

Throughout my career, it's very rare for me to use Filipiniana/Terno inspiration. But since the theme of my 10th year show was about giving back, I wanted to pay homage to my Filipino community by using Filipiniana as my base design. The Philippines is also known for their amazing pearls. So using that as part of the details really brings my Philippine culture into the Hollywood scene.

Your mother is always there in your shows whether it be in Los Angeles or San Diego. Can you talk about her support for you all these years and what was the most important lesson or advice she gave you?

My mom has always been there for me through my tough times giving me encouragement to be able to keep on fighting for my dreams. She has always told me that if I keep on working hard towards my goals, nothing will be able to stop me from achieving them.

How do you relax?

I relax by going to my cycling classes, watching movies/shows on Netflix, and hanging out with my loved ones. But what I am most excited about is my upcoming trip because I am going all over Europe for a month.

What is your next project after this?

I have already drawn up my designs for my Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection that will be released early next year.

What are your other dreams?

My other dream is to be the face of one of the big fashion houses of the world so I can inspire the next generation of artists to keep following their dreams because nothing is impossible.

—MGP, GMA News