In its September issue, British Vogue features the designs of international accessories designer Bea Valdes, not just in one but in two major photo shoots photographed by Mario Testino and Javier Valhonrat.
In an e-mail interview, Bea talks about her upcoming collection and being featured, yet again, in such an important and powerful international magazine.
“When I was designing the Fall/Winter 2011 collection, I was imagining a ‘culturequake’ where different peoples and time periods collide—as it seemed to reflect what our life in Manila was like,” she said. “Every season, samples of our collection travel all over the world for shoots, and credit really goes to my sister, Marga, who makes international editorial features possible though based in Manila.
“It is wonderful to have our Philippine-made pieces showcased in fantastic editorials with such diverse references. It is still quite unreal for us, and everyone at the workshop is simply beyond thrilled! Everything we have experienced has been nurtured by the support and encouragement of our families, loyal friends, and the many countrymen we’ve met along our journey.”
This year, Bea has also collaborated with the major Asian brand, Shanghai Tang, for the latter’s F/W 2011 accessories line. When I first started out writing for this newspaper in 1998, Bea was my first interview in my column entitled “Her World.” She was working as a design consultant then for the lifestyle/home store Artemis. I had always been fascinated and inspired by this creative and beautiful lady.
On a personal note, and I am going out on a limb here, I would like to tell all accessories designers out there to start getting more creative and stop copying. There’s nothing like your own creativity and hard work; be a trailblaze, and not a copycat. Who knows? One day you just might get to the international status that Bea and others like her have achieved. And this you simply cannot achieve by copying.
LA on my mind
Traveling to the US with strict airport policies can be unnerving. On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I had to stand in line for three hours (after a 15-hour flight) because their computers bogged down on a high-season day, when tourists from all over the world pass through LAX. It wasn’t really the best way to be greeted by a city you haven’t seen in four years. Happily, that was the only sore point in my “short but sweet” trip.
I was in LA to interview the hot international star and half-Filipino Bruno Mars, who has signed up to be the endorser for the mega-brand Bench (more details next week). Here’s a brief run-down of my five days in LA.
Upon arriving at the Luxe Hotel at Rodeo Drive, I quickly met up with good friends Ben Chan, Miguel Pastor and Arnold Vegafria for dinner. We were later joined by GR Rodis at a karaoke bar where Bruno’s mother, Bernie Hernandez, and sisters entertained us with their lovely voices. Now we know where Bruno got his talent.
We had a nightcap at the über chic and private Hotel Chateau Marmont, and guess who we bumped into? None other than Lady Gaga, who was unrecognizable sans outré outfits, as she was only wearing a bathrobe.
The next day, we ate at the popular LA restaurant, Ivy, where one of my closest friends, Kit Zobel, joined us. She happened to also be in LA with her mom, aunt and kids. And what’s a trip without some shopping, so right after lunch we headed to the Grove, where we saw actor Mario Lopez taping for his TV show “Extra.”
A highlight of my trip was attending a charity event for the Trevor Project, an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian and gay transgender youth. The event had over 200 attendees, and good to know that the “pink” dollar which wields so much power in LA is utilized for a greater good.
It was also great meeting up with Filipinos living there who are making a name for themselves, such as the makeup artist Chechel Joson. She’s doing such a great job there, already having worked with actors like Gerald Butler, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”).
I also met the producer Michael Carandang, an Emmy-award winner, who is the executive producer for “America’s Next Top Model” as well as for “RSVP,” a show on the Filipino channel hosted by G Tongi-Walters and Dr. Tess Mauricio.
LA is a city whose whole being revolves around Hollywood, and it is a treat to be able to see some of these actors in the flesh or even just talk about them. More importantly, it’s always heart-warming to know these Filipinos (like Bea and those living abroad) are doing so well and giving pride to our country.
