By JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
From provocative mesh pants to frilly dresses and trench coats, all the way up to elaborate gowns and tailored men’s suits, there certainly was no shortage of drama in Robbie Santos’ seventh anniversary fashion show for homegrown label Septième Rebelle.
The man behind the unconventional and exciting Septième Rebelle label rang in his seventh anniversary as a designer with an inspired collection that underscores not only his penchant for beauty and art, but also his passion for creating intricately detailed clothes for modern men and women.
Titled “Devenir,” or French for “To Become,” Santos’ latest offering is a personal take on self-actualization through fashion that can be worn from day to night. Each piece in the 84-look collection was designed so that its wearer can easily transition from casual chic to resort wear, corporate couture to extravagant evening elegance, in a snap of a finger.
In addition to his exquisite yet versatile approach to fashion design, Robbie also sought inspiration from his profound interest in World War II documentaries, as manifested through the unique cuts his featured trousers have in this collection. “When you look at these pants from behind, they present an illusion of hobbling instead of walking. They were created to mimic someone losing their legs as a casualty of war,” he points out. “This sense of being ‘handicapped’ easily translates to us humans having our own set of disabilities. But no matter how incapacitated we may feel, we always have the choice to think, feel and become beautiful – or Devenir Belle.”
Robbie also describes his collection as an epiphany of sorts, especially when he transitioned into fashion after being in the academe for 15 years. Now thriving in his second career, this celebratory compilation serves as a reminder of his journey.
Like a champagne bottle that had already been shaken, Robbie’s imagination definitely popped a frenzy of colors, textures and silhouettes during his biggest fashion show to date. And while some of the pieces may not be for the faint of heart (such as a certain gown whose mesh shows the derriere), Robbie definitely put his heart and soul into each and every piece. “Finding your true passion is like seeing light at the end of a tunnel,” he mentions noting that his dream of creating beautiful clothes only came true a tad later in his life.
Late or not, what a colorful dream it’s turning out to be!
For more information on Septième Rebelle, follow @septiemerebelle on Instagram or visit the website www.septiemerebelle.com.
