In a private fashion show for spouses of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders at the recent summit held in the Philippines, fashion designer Randy Ortiz not only wowed guests with his 30-piece contemporary Filipiniana collection. He also came away with one new client, the wife of one prime minister.

The official’s wife placed an order for several dresses from the Asean collection, says Ortiz. She also bought several of the designer’s fabrics with custom embroidery.

“She loved the embroidery and the piña fabric,” Ortiz says.

The private show, which showed Ortiz’s elegant formal wear, had ternos, modernized Maranao costumes, and pieces with elements of costumes from within the Asian region. It showcased “what you can do with indigenous materials with a bit of western flair,” says the designer.

Ortiz’s show, directed by Jackie Aquino, was held at the Champagne Room of the Manila Hotel, with guests led by President Duterte’s partner, Honeylet Avanceña, the Asean leaders’ spouses and Cabinet wives, as well as members of the diplomatic community.

“It was like the lunchtime fashion shows back in the day,” Ortiz says. “Jackie had a soundtrack made of Filipino pop love songs for the show, and we also had Kundiman singers during the lunch. My collection itself was more conservative owing to the audience. We really wanted to showcase Filipino design in a contemporary way.”