As if Rhett Eala’s chic but classic ready-to-wear pieces are not enough, fashionistas now also have the works of three other designers such as Ivar Aseron, Twettie de Leon and Jo Ann Bitagcol to choose and draw inspiration from.
By Alex Y. Vergara
Fashionistas doing some last-minute Christmas shopping for that knockout party dress are in for a pleasant surprise should they venture inside designer Rhett Eala’s newly opened Greenbelt 3 branch carrying his name.
As if Rhett’s chic but classic ready-to-wear pieces are not enough, they have the works of three other designers such as Ivar Aseron, Twettie de Leon and Jo Ann Bitagcol to choose from. And instead of waiting outside while their wives or girlfriends browse through and choose the perfect looks, men have more reasons to join them shopping since, apart from Rhett’s men’s wear pieces, Ivar is also carrying a number of off-the-rack men’s shirts alongside his quirky, fashion-forward dresses.
Even model-turned-photographer Jo Ann, who now dabbles into fashion design, has something to offer the gentlemen, as her loose, Filipino-inspired tops splashed with enlarged reproductions of her photographs are what Millennials and GenZers call gender-fluid.
As for Tweetie, the seasoned ramp and commercial model who channeled her creativity into designing labor-intensive accessories some years back, she has beefed up and updated her line of statement chokers. This time, she also added into the mix classic but reimagined tasseled leather shoulder bags.
In a way, Tweetie’s artisanal accessories, much like the other items sold in the store, can be classified as limited edition pieces because they’re numbered.
“What sets us apart from most other RTW stores by local designers is we’re multi-brand,” says Rhett. Having been long-time friends, the four designers first thought of collaborating together to come up with a number of collections.
When Ayala Malls offered them a 150-sq. m. space, they realized that it was quite a big place. Collaborating on a collection was no longer a viable option, as it would take up too much time.
To give people, especially regular patrons, an idea how big this latest branch is, Rhett’s SM Aura and Power Plant Mall branches have floor areas of 80 sq. m. and 36 sq. m., respectively.
“I said that instead of collaborating, let’s just work on our respective collections so that we could maximize the space,” says Rhett. And work they did. Their individual collections, which, Rhett adds, are beefed up or changed every few weeks or so now have special places of honor inside the store.
Rhett, the group’s de facto leader, says that they are all free to choose whatever direction or inspiration to follow. For Jo Ann and Tweetie, their new address, they say, is the ideal post-pandemic home, as people start shopping clothes and accessories again to wear to their back-to-back events.
“I used to have a showroom in the south (Southern Metro Manila), then the lockdown happened,” Tweetie shares. “Now, apart from doing occasional pop-ups, I’m here with Rhett and the rest.”
Jo Ann, who used to model for Rhett and Ivar, says in jest, “I ventured into designing after seeing their pop-ups. Nainggit ako! But seriously, I didn’t know I could design until I tried my hand in it.” No doubt, Rhett, Ivar and the countless designers she worked with in the past have inspired Jo Ann to tap into her own wellspring of creativity, first as a photographer and now as an RTW designer.
“I first started reproducing my photographs on scarves,” Jo Ann continues. “From there, it progressed into tops and bottoms, including skirts. I wanted to sell my prints, but not on printed paper. I wanted something functional and wearable as my medium.”
Ivar isn’t totally new into the RTW business, having provided clothes to the now-defunct Myth. “This time though, it’s more streamlined because the focus is just on us four,” he says. “And now that people have started dressing up again and attending events, clothes made by Filipino designers with unique points of view have found a niche.”
And Rhett and his fellow designers hope to satisfy that need with locally designed and produced clothes that not only speak to a Filipino market, but to a global one as well.
