Did she or didn’t she?

Even before the issue between Rajo Laurel and newbie designer Mariella Garcia exploded on social media last month, Garcia has already claimed she has four versions of the bandage top she calls Luna.

Laurel, without naming Garcia, accused “this designer” on Twitter of copying a similar top he called Iris. At one point, he threatened to take “legal action.” In a separate tweet, he even posted a picture of him with high-profile lawyer Karen Jimeno.

Laurel’s friends such as Divine Lee and Bianca Gonzales lost no time in joining the fray by calling Garcia’s attention on Instagram (37LA_LA73).

As expected, their public comments drew reactions, some personal and bordering on the libelous, mostly in defense of Garcia.

“I’m not aware if people knew that the woman in the picture wearing the Luna is me,” said Garcia with a laugh. “The post had already generated almost 300 comments before I decided to delete it.”

Positive

While the controversy swirled, Garcia decided to keep quiet while trying to remain “positive.” In keeping with her close friends’ advice, she didn’t react publicly to Laurel’s accusation.

“Well, I was a bit alarmed at first,” said the 27-year-old designer. “I’m here to make clothes, not to make other people, especially those I look up to, angry. But I figured that if I commented, I would just be further fueling the controversy.”

Laurel’s reaction didn’t come as a total surprise to Garcia. Weeks before the issue became public, he was already posting comments on certain images the younger designer was posting on Instagram.

“I remember him saying ‘this looks familiar,’” said Garcia, in reference to a picture of her Luna top. “I viewed it as positive. At least, he took notice. But I didn’t reply.”

We tried to get Laurel’s side, but the designer, following his lawyer’s advice, declined to comment.

When Laurel made his true feelings known a few weeks later, Garcia produced two more versions of the Luna to meet a spike in demand.

Apart from following friends’ advice, she chanced upon an online forum where supposed lawyers were discussing the issue.

“According to them, copyright laws don’t apply to clothes because they’re viewed as utilitarian,” said Garcia.

Surreal

She considers the experience surreal since she follows Laurel, Lee and Gonzales on Instagram.

They have never been introduced, but she once asked the veteran designer to pose for a picture with her after one of his fashion shows.

So did she or didn’t she copy Laurel’s Iris top?

Garcia’s answer was a non-answer: “I have an answer, but I would rather not say it because I don’t want to be put on a collision course with any designer. This is a free country, and everyone is entitled to his or her opinion or interpretation of things.”

But she insists that her versions are totally different from Laurel’s. If there are similarities, they’re limited to the materials they used.

“I guess his eyes were drawn to my materials, which is probably similar to what he uses,” said Garcia. “I don’t know where he gets his, but I get mine mostly from abroad. It’s more economical in the long run to buy materials abroad, and the choices are more varied.”

Mentors

Garcia, who is from Angeles, Pampanga, has been drawn to fashion all her life, doodling flowers and women since she could remember.

But to comply with her parents’ wishes, she took up a “normal course” by finishing language arts at Centro Escolar University.

After graduating in 2009, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. Her mentors included designing brothers John and the late Paul Herrera.

She also took up styling classes under Manila-based Japanese stylist Ryuji. Armed with the basics, she established a ready-to-wear business almost seven years ago.

“I did almost everything from sourcing to designing,” she said. “I hired seamstresses to execute my designs. Since I know a bit of styling, I shot and posted my dresses on Facebook and Instagram.”

She also learned how to cut and sew. A daddy’s girl, Garcia took the sudden death of her father in 2014 hard. But, instead of losing steam, it propelled her to take designing “more seriously.”

Since the RTW scene was getting crowded, she opted to venture into couture early this year. She’s partial to design flourishes like beadwork and hand painting because they “allow me to use my hands.”

“Since my father’s passing, fashion has been my place of refuge,” she said.

Contrary to earlier reports, 37 LA (a play on Ela, Garcia’s nickname) is more than just an online store. Like her cyber-savvy colleagues, she uses social media to promote her clothes and reach out to more clients.

Among her more famous clients are Sen. Grace Poe, Toni Gonzaga, Cathy Gonzaga, Jennylyn Mercado and Brazilian model Olivia Medina, who posted her picture wearing the Luna that went viral.

Follow the author on Instagram and Twitter at alex_y_vergara; Visit his blog at alexyvergara.com