Over the past couple of seasons (based on Philippine Fashion Week’s calendar), a slew of talented young designers have broken into the fashion scene, offering more than just the typical hipster clothing and producing impressive high-fashion designs. Sassa Jimenez is among the list of stellar names. At 24 (turning 25 in December), she has a lot going for her.

When I first wrote about her in 2008, still a neophyte, fresh from a two-year fashion design course at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, Jimenez had plans of conquering the fashion arena. But back then she was taking “baby steps” compared to what she has achieved today. In just a blink of an eye, with a stellar debut collection at PFW—45 model exits—she instantly garnered an inner-circle cult, and was hailed as the newest champion of uptown chic (think of Blair Waldorf in “Gossip Girl”).

Brides and young fashion denizens were demanding Jimenez’s fiercely feminine pieces—abundances of ruffles and layers of ethereal tulle—and nothing less than pretty. Her clientele includes Georgina Wilson, Anne Curtis, Bea Alonzo, Ruffa Gutierrez, Toni Gonzaga and Megan Young.

“It has been a roller-coaster ride,” reflects Jimenez, still polite, grounded and soft-spoken. “A lot of good things happened, but I had to learn a lot of stuff along the way, because I started young,” she says.

“It wouldn’t be a pleasant experience to learn that stuff later on. I think it is good that I know them when I’m younger, so I know how to handle things properly,” she says.

Circus Belles

Five PFW shows and counting, she is still creating adorable women’s fashion. Jimenez became enthralled by an all-female circus, “Circus Belles,” an idea that vividly came to her in a dream, which she recreated as  whimsical characters in lady-like ballerina-type dresses, with petticoats and ball gowns, voluminous with sculpted bodices, for her 45-piece Spring-Summer 2012 collection at the PFW show on Oct. 30.

Not that you’d look at her collection and see capricious circus costumes. Rather, you will see impeccably rendered, very wearable pieces: a French-inspired sheer striped blouse with soft Peter Pan collar paired with frilly polka-dot flower-like tiered dress; sparkling black full-skirt dress made of wool, fastened with tulle overlay and exaggerated feather-like shoulders; and strapless strawberry-pink tulle tutu cocktail dress with woven structured bodice.

The collection Jimenez will be showcasing is more in tune with her initial fashion collection. “This is the most similar to my first collection, and I think it is more me,” she says.

“People who are not afraid to dress up” is how she describes women who wear her clothes. Jimenez is most comfortable with the market she attracts, and she knows she is doing quite well with her designs, but she is not going to rest on her laurels.

Men’s line

“Every artist or designer should not limit themselves to just one train of thought,” says this young lady, who divides her talent among little passion projects, which include an affordable men’s street-wear collection she calls “a palate cleanser.”

She plans to launch her men’s collection in February 2012, to which she added a lot of prints and colors, “very Asian, psychedelic, bohemian.” If it begins to run full throttle, Jimenez will be more than a maker of chic frocks, now a full-fledged designer for both men and women.

“I think my designs match our market here,” she says of her soon-to-be men’s line. “We are not like Japan that is either Muji, clean, or the extreme Harajuku. We are kind of in the middle in terms of style,” she explains.

Creative upbringing

If her grasp of her market seems innate, her possession of creativity is undeniable, which has its roots from her upbringing. Her parents are business savvy and creative individuals, Ramon and Abby, founders of Jimenez & Partners, now known as Publicis JimenezBasic Advertising. Her dad recently assumed his post as the Philippines’ DOT chief.

“Most, if not all, the pointers I’ve gotten in terms of business and managing my time and finances are from my parents,” she says of her very supportive parents. “My parents have been a huge help. Huge is not a big enough word,” she adds.

At 21, she was able to venture into her own business and manage her own workshop all on her own.

Creativity is also nurtured and honed at home, which Jimenez describes as “a very creative environment.”

“My house is like a creative hub,” she adds. Dinner topics are always interesting, where they learn a lot from each other and throw around different ideas.

“I don’t get lazy. My mind doesn’t get lazy. I’m always thinking of new things,” she says.

It’s no surprise that season after season, Jimenez elevates her design aesthetic, with a goal to improve and keep getting better. Her Circus Belle collection is a fitting ode to that goal; the result is a confident and utterly inspired collection.