Like all the great artistic pursuits, fashion is another way in which one can express oneself. The tedious and meticulous process of designing clothes is a designer’s method of transforming ideas into the reality of making a fashion statement.
A young, ambitious designer from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), is one of those dreaming to make a mark in fashion.
Denise Quintos, a 21-year old aspiring fashion designer, spoke not only about her struggles in realizing her dream, but also the contentment and pride that came out of her efforts.
Inspiration in France
Looking back, Denise said she first thought of becoming a designer when she traveled to Europe with her family in the summer of 2012.
Upon entering Marie Antoinette’s bedroom in the Palace of Versailles in France, a wave of inspiration came over Denise.
She started to sketch and doodle. She wanted to relive and recreate such grandeur, beauty and elegance in the clothes that she was to design. Thus, her love for the Victorian era was born.
However, she said that it had been a “struggle at first,” as her parents did not support her; they wanted her to go to medical school, which is why she attended the University of Santo Tomas for a year. This did not stop her, as she had a dream, and the determination to go with it.
After a year of nagging her parents, Denise succeeded in gain their support, eventually enrolling in DLS-CSB for a fashion design course. She planned to pursue her studies in New York, and even had to forego her debut party.
‘Frustrated debutante’
The theme of a “frustrated debutante” was evident in her collection for her recent DLS-CSB graduation show Demoiselle (“young lady”). It was inspired by European style, stemming from her daydreams of having been born in the Victorian era, and the clothes that she would have graciously worn.
Her signature style is a balance between playful and classy, and is not brand-conscious.
Her local idols include Francis Libiran, Maureen Disini and Vania Ramoff, while her international influences are Cristobal Balenciaga, Elie Saab and Isabel Marant.
The overall theme of her collection was a young lady travelling the world. The materials were bought in Hong Kong in February. Denise went for a “spring summer” feel, with the pastel-pink and blush colors heavily intensified and stressed throughout her designs.
The dresses were long, primarily a reflection of her frustration over having to skip the formal celebration of her 18th birthday.
But more importantly, she celebrated her school graduation last April 5. When her models walked the runway wearing her designs, Denise felt all her stress instantly disappear.
Asked how hard the process was, all Denise could do was smile and say, “All my sleepless nights were worth it.”