Gian Romano has been known to be blunt, aloof, maybe even mayabang. But you can also say he just lets his talent speak for himself. Romano is kind of a living legend in the fashion industry, having been an active designer for almost 14 years now. And just like a legend, he is maddeningly elusive. He is glaringly absent from any Philippine Fashion Week shows and doesn’t take part in any designer’s associations. He rarely puts himself in the spotlight but when he does, he reminds people that talent can go further than being chummy with everyone.

Romano doesn’t bother to address people’s misconceptions about him because, simply put, Romano isn’t here for people to like him. “Yes, a lot of people like to be liked,” he explains. “It’s not about being sweet but about being a person others would want to meet. Now, I’m a good judge of character; it may be douche-y but sometimes, I meet people and think, ‘No, I don’t want us to be friends.’ Before, I’d give someone the benefit of the doubt yet in the end, they screwed me [over]. I eventually learned to trust my instincts.”

Romano also lets his instincts take over when choosing which clients to take, even at the risk of being called picky (or “namimili… ng customers,” as he puts it). He candidly talks about the clients he hates working with: “It’s common here for acquaintances to approach [me] and say, ‘Hey, yung jacket ko, ha?’ You haven’t even called me, b*tch! Is that their polite way to say ‘hi’ or a way to make me feel good? Because honestly, it’s annoying and insulting. Those are people I’d never want to work with. There are also clients who complain and complain—some folks are just born scammers, I guess. They come in, thinking they can get away with things.”

Romano also talks about people’s misconception that his pieces are expensive, saying that designer outfits really cost money, but should be treated as an investment. He laments everyone’s preference for fast fashion nowadays: “[They think] Zara’s the ultimate, which is sad.”

People may find Gian Romano too rough-edged for comfort, but there’s no denying his sartorial brilliance.

Source: September Grace Mahino for Northern Living, “Living on the Edge,” September 2014

Photos by Ralph Mendoza