FROM humble Butuan City beginnings to upmarket Melrose Avenue mobility, Resty LaGare’s adventures in fashion is an inspiring tale. Once a wide-eyed dreamer armed with talent and tenacity, he is now reaping the rewards of his sartorial pursuits.
Having labored abroad for several years, with forays into fashion weeks in Miami, Phoenix and Los Angeles, LaGare showcased a collection locally for the first time at Fashion Forte Series XV. Held on October 20 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Fashion Forte is the brainchild of established designer Nardie Presa and under the direction of Audie Espino.
LaGare is part of For the Stars Fashion House, a hub of world-class fashion designers which caters to Hollywood celebrities. He has dressed Bai Ling, Thalia, and P-pop sensation SB19.
In a Facebook Messenger interview arranged by his friend Frederick Blancas, I asked LaGare about his career trajectory. These are his fascinating thoughts:
“OPULENCE”: This is how I named my collection because the designs and materials used indicate luxurious couture. Opulence has always been the theme for my collections for my shows for international fashion weeks. I wanted the audience for my first Manila show to also experience opulence from my point of view.
My designs are for confident, empowered women. They know what they want. They are sure of who they are. They carry opulent wear well. They may either be celebrities, part of the elite, or a successful woman. My clients are mostly based overseas but I’m excited to have more Pinoy clients. I dress up real successful women. Some of them are celebrities and some are part of royalty. Some are successful professionals and some come from the world of business. I create dresses to make them more beautiful and confident for a magical experience.
ARTISTIC LEANINGS: I have always loved the arts. In school, I would imagine and draw. I had no formal training in fashion design but I like reading and researching. I enjoy observing people and exploring places. At an early age, I bravely ventured into the fashion world sans connections. I only had and will always have passion, talent and grit.
FASHION AWAKENING: I started at a very young age; I was still in grade school. Not belonging to a rich family made my imagination go wild. I was attracted to luxurious and beautiful things. I had to somehow satisfy that craving through drawing. I would draw ball gowns from what I saw in magazines and added my own flavor to them. Opulence has always been my aesthetic from the get-go. Drawing opulence somehow made me become part of the world of the rich and famous. I went to college at Mindanao State University but my course had nothing to do with fashion. Uninspired, I dropped out of school to pursue my dream. Riding a boat from Butuan, I promised to myself that I would return as a famous designer. Exactly how I would do it was not so clear to me but my commitment to my dream was unswerving. I knew that I had to grab whatever opportunity came my way.
Fortunately, I was there for the opportunities that came my way—in a garment manufacturing enterprise in Manila to fashion houses in Dubai, Kuwait and the US. But it was not sheer luck. It was coupled with inquisitiveness, hard work, humility, and connecting and learning from more experienced people.
INSPIRATIONS: Being an art aficionado, I get to innovate from the artworks I see or even music that I hear. Add to these, my vivid imagination. I have always been driven to create beauty that allures, charms and dazzles. As I already mentioned, opulence has always been my style.
I look up to the top haute couture designers like Gianfranco Ferre, Christian Lacroix and Alexander McQueen to name a few. I get inspirations from their work. Among Filipino designers, I admire Loreto Popioco, Joe Salazar, Ben Farrales, Rusty Lopez, Louie Mamengo and Christian Espiritu.
ROCKY GATHERCOLE: I’m lucky to have befriended Rocky (the designers passed last year), who was as passionate and driven as I am. I admire his work and his artistry. Over and above that, Rocky was a kindred spirit, a true friend with whom I have shared vision and values. Our styles are not entirely the same but they both depict and define excellent fashion. In my collection for Fashion Forte, I melded our styles—Rocky’s avant-garde and my luxurious wear. My Opulence collection pays homage to Rocky.
FASHION FORTE: I chose Fashion Forte as my first Manila show because Nardie Presa and Audie Espino are trusted institutions in the local fashion scene. Fashion Forte has been around for many years, providing a platform for Filipino designers, both emerging and seasoned. Fashion ebbs and flows with our volatile and uncertain world, but thankfully we have dedicated guardians or preservers of local fashion in the persons of Nardie and Audie. I put my trust in them.
DREAM-CHASER: I have been asked by younger designers about the secret to my success. I tell them to chase their dream and that nothing is impossible. I remind them to remain humble, to focus on their work and to pray for God’s blessings. I’m thankful for what I have achieved but this is just the start of the exciting part. Along with other talented and dedicated Filipino fashion designers, I hope to contribute to making the country a fashion capital of the world in the not-so distant future.