WOW Pinoy

Alan Del Rosario - FilAm fashion designer

Written by Ms. Confuse on Saturday, April 05, 2008

Alan Del Rosario knows all about bringing sexy back. The Los Angeles-based designer presented his latest fashion collection line at the star-studded Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at the Smash Box Studios in Culver City last March 11. This is Del Rosario's third trip to the exclusive fashion event.

About hundred clothing buyers, spectators and media personnel checked out his fall collection in Lightbox, a standing-room only venue. Among those that attended include adult-entertainment star Jenna Jameson, mixed martial-arts fighter Tito Ortiz, actress Apollonia Kotero, fox 11 news anchor Christine Devine and musician Sean McNabb. They all waited to see the latest design from the Pinoy's Fall 2008 collection.

Del Rosario's latest collection, Bow and Arrow, is a mixture of fashion from decades past. He dressed his runway model his favorite look from the 50's to the 90's. The models sashayed down the catwalkwith panache as the crowd rubbernecked left-right-up-and-down dissecting every aspect of Del Rosario's clothing design from the fushia stockings and shoes (made popular in the 80's) to loose and casual black and white simple day dresses of the 60's.

"I wanted to merge my favorites design of those decades and make it relevant now," said Del Rosario, whose dresses retail $1,500 to $2,000. "Women now like to buy pieces and adapt to the style today."

After he presented his red carpet-worthy designs, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

For Del Rosario, the crowd's enjoyment of his design is his satisfaction. But for all the glitz, glamour and blinding flash bulbs, the ovation signified more than just applause for his latest fashion design collection.

It's been a long road foe Del Rosario, whi went from being a civil engineer to one of the most popular fashion designers in the US.

He had endured rising to the top of his profession winning the California Designer of the Year award to being a casualty in the cut-throat world of fashion and design business, and back again. Despite all the obstacles, Del Rosario persevered. What keeps him up at night is thinking of the latest fahion and design.

"I love what I do," he said admitting he only sleeps four to five hours a night. "Nothing can stop me."

Starting from Scratch
Del Rosario arrived from the Philipppines in the late 80's to pursue his fashion and design dreams. He studied civil engineering in the Philippines to fulfill his parents wishes.

Growing up in Cebu, his parents were reluctant for their only son to pursue a career in the arts, fashion and design. Since the arts was in his heart, he made a deal with his parents -- he'll get a degree in civil engineering first but he can pursue whatever he wishes after graduation.

With a Civil Engineering degree as a safety net, he left the Philippines for Los Angeles. At that time, he was a 27-year-old international student laiming to start over looking for a break in the fashion world. He started by studying at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). There, he excelled in their accelerated program eventually worked his way up to earning a scholarship and being awarded the school's prestigious Bob Macke award.

"I really believed [that] what I was doing was right," said Del Rosario of his decision to go to US.

After FIDM, he worked for a large company learning the ropes and business side of the fashion industry.

In 1999, he started his own line carrying his namesake. It was a major hit. A year later, Gen Art LA awarded him a winner of the prestigious Fresh Faces in fashion for eveningwear.

Known for his signature style and evening-gown-dresses, major retail stores and specialty boutiques flocked to order Del Rosario's clothing line. The became so overwhelming that it was hard for Del Rosario to keep up with the demands. He eventually lost some accounts.

Post 9-11
After the September 11 attacks, retailers stopped calling. The economy slumped and the demaand for his clothing line went downhill. del Rosario had to close his business. "It was hard time for me," he said. "I was on top then lost everything."

Wanting to start over, he joined a clothing company (that he doesn't want to mention) and revamped their way of business. According to Del Rosario, he returned the small clothing company from $7 moillion-a-year business to a $40 million-a-year earner.

A few years ago, he received a call from an old friend about starting another line. This friend, Henry Kim, now financially back his new collection.

Del Rosario is once again rising to the top of the fashion and design world. His grown so popular that Hollywood stars like Michelle Pfeiffer, Minnie Driver and Debra Messing wear his private collection. His clothing collection can be found at major retailers such as Nordsstorm, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's Beverly Hills, Anthropology, Fred Segal and a number of other specialty boutiques in Los Angeles and New York, the fashion capitals of US.

He said that he designs for the modern woman are simple and sophisticated. Asked what sexy means to him, he said, "Comfort. Comfort is sexy to me. you have a lot of women [who] wear these very nice outfits but they look stiff like thay can't move. What's the use of wearing something if you can't enjoy it?".

He said he's fortunate to be able to do what he loves. He advises young designers to follow their heart. "Be true to yourself," he said. "Don't be influenced by other people or designers. If you have a vision, and some other people might not like it, 90 percent of the time you're right. Believe in yourself."