Rajo Laurel
By: Bianca Valerio
Last month, a presscon was held in honor of one of the most celebrated Philippine-based international fashion designers, Rajo Laurel. It was hosted by Manila’s most palatial and ostentatious abode of high society and client devotee, Tessa Prieto-Valdes.
Held at the House of Laurel, it is a lifestyle boutique specializing in high-end ready-to-wear clothing for women, men, expectant mothers and children, which also includes accessories like bags, jewelry and shoes. It was transformed to a chic venue to preview his collection for his much anticipated, upcoming gala, Rajo Red, to be held on September 10, 2008 at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
Rajo, once called the Bad Boy of Philippine Fashion for continuously defying the boundaries of the industry, has definitely perfected his craft and boasts a clientele of high society, politicians and celebrities. Armed with a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, he has also delved in specialty courses in Central St. Martins in London.
Rajo won awards at the ASEAN Young Designers Competition (Singapore, 1993), the Smirnoff Fashion Design Awards (Philippines, 1995) and the Asia Collection “Makuhari Grand Prix ‘97” (Japan, 1997). To date, he has staged several major galas and has been invited to join group shows and exhibitions such as the Philippine Centennial Show (Sydney, 1997), Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Exhibition (New York, 2001) and the Ties That Bind; Shanghai-Philippines Expositions (Shanghai, 2003). In 2004 and 2005, Rajo also represented the Philippines in the KL Fashion Week held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and BALI FASHION WEEK VII last November 2007.
Apart from being president of House of Laurel, which also houses a salon for his fabulous sister, Lancôme’ Chief Make-Up Artist, Gela Laurel; he has also established LAUREL ET ROSS, a garment company that specializes in creating and manufacturing corporate uniforms.
This year, the recently launched Project Runway Philippines judge (counterpart to Michael Kors) will be showcasing a 50-piece haute couture collection, where the Philippine Red Cross-Rizal Chapter will be a beneficiary for this fashion-with-a-cause event.
You’ll definitely have the juicy details on his show from me, so keep tabs on that ladies!
Here are some pictures I took from his last event:
Models with Rajo: Here we are before the salon show starts, posing one more time with Rajo. These are but 3 pieces from his amazing upcoming 50-piece collection.
Show Proper: Curtain call! Rajo with us models.
(L-R) Rajo's sister, General Manager for House of Laurel, Venise Laurel and Marivic Rufino, Red Cross-Rizal Chapter Official Representative
Here I am with Lancome' Chief Make-Up Artist and Rajo's sister, Gela Laurel. She did all our faces for the presscon and this is the look she's conjured up for the Rajo Red gala: smokey eye with a red shadow accent and gold highlights with a pale lip.
I'm actually wearing a head piece - synthetic hair wrapped around sculptured wires worn like headband/helmet. While Valerie (below) is wearing the oversized bob hair piece. These are just two of the hair pieces created by Toni & Guy senior stylist, Nelson Cruz (standing next to Val).
Although obviously ostentatious, they look so real and it looked really chic together with the make-up.
Rajo's lifestyle boutique was cleared out to make way for a quaint lunch with the press.
I'm a pescotarian (no meat, only seafood) so I devoured the salad which had some salted egg and prawns with a yuzu vinaigrette dressing which was prepared by the well-known, upscale Japanese resto, Kai. I also enjoyed the wasabi oyster tempura. The porcini mushroom Yakitori was delish! However, the crowd favorite was the Buta Kakuni which is a pork belly cooked to braised perfection by Chef Gilbert Pangilingan of Kai for 10 hours!
The House of Laurel is located at:
6013 Villena corner
Manalac Streets
Poblacion
Makati City
Tel: 895-5688
Web: www.rajolaurel.com
