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By Ricky T. Gallardo
ONE morning, Albert Figueras
finally mustered enough guts to leave his
comfortable abode and flourishing fashion design business in New
York City to fly home to Manila. He clarifies though that it
wasn’t an impulsive decision.
“There was something inside
that kept on telling me to come home,” he recalls. “I gave it
much thought, long and hard in fact, until that morning when the
reality hit me: go wherever will make you happier.”
Most of the major highlights in
the life of Figueras happened without much planning. After
graduating from San Beda College with a degree in Marketing,
Figueras found himself working in the computer division of the Bank
of America. “I was expected to be in sales and marketing but the
lure of computers was too strong.” Figueras shares that during his
college days, there wasn’t even computer classes. “We had
typing, and everything was theoretical. Maybe that’s why I tool a
fascination when introduced to computers.”
While working with the offshore
bank, Figueras would go out with his closest friends during
weekends. “My two closest buddies then were both dancers. Egay
Ignacio and Raffy Chan were both with the Dyna Dancers, who would be
on television almost weekly,” he volunteers. Figueras started to
share his concepts about dance costumes and before he knew it, he
was making the costumes for this famous dance group of the late 70s.
“I started with one sewer,” he remembers clearly.
His colorful costumes were such a
big hit and soon after, he was hired by companies like OctoArts and
WEA to design the costumes of their dancers. “I started to venture
into costume design for movies and Lily Monteverde was one of my
clients.”
In 1992, Figueras got his biggest
break when he was handpicked by the organizers of Barry Manilow’s
Manila concert to be the wardrobe master. “I was one of the three
persons who could only enter the dressing room of Manilow. He
trusted my taste in selecting the outfits he will wear for his sold
out concert. That was a big boost of confidence for me.”
He was the hottest designer for
television and live performance acts, and he would do the costumes
for Maricel Soriano (Maria!Maria!) and Alma Moreno (Rated A). He put
up a small shop in Makati and clients mushroomed after only a few
months.
Then New York beckoned and he
packed his bags, leaving a very promising career behind. In the Big
Apple, Figueras did not stop his love affair with fashion design and
found ways to improve his talent and skills. “I worked with
Macy’s and I also took on a job as a sales associate for Ralph
Lauren,” he reveals.
His mom Maxima and his sister
Marilou Medida, served as the wind beneath his wings. “They
supported me all the way,” intones Figueras, adding that his only
son Maurice Albert served as his light in some of his darkest
moments.
Figueras did not close his Makati
dress shop while he was in New York. “I turned it over to a good
friend, Erick Erandio-Valeña, who took good care of my clients and
found other loyal clients for himself.” While he was in the
States, Figueras would get orders from Filipino immigrants, then fax
his designs to Manila, give instructions, and Valeña would finish
the job and send the gowns to the United States.
Like Figueras, Valeña was not
born into fashion. “I was a BS Math graduate majoring in Actuarial
Science. But this is my calling, I guess, “ says the mild-mannered
Valeña.
In New York, Figueras met singer
Carmen Pateña who became a regular client. At a time when Pateña
separated with her husband and was deciding whether she would come
back to Manila or not, Figueras was also thinking of moving back to
the Philippines. “It was just coincidence that we both had plans,
but we never told each other.”
The next thing they know, they
were both on their way home. Figueras is now running his Makati shop
once again, and working very well with Valeña as his associate
designer. For the March 7 and 8 show of Pateña with Pilita Corrales
and Carmen Soriano at the Music Museum billed as Golden Divas,
Figueras shares his expertise and is currently in the thick of
preparations for the gowns these veteran singers will wear.
“For this concert, I use local
materials,” Figueras proudly says, adding, “ I guess living in
New York made me more proud of being a Filipino. In designing for my
clients, be they stars or low-profile citizens, comfort is tops in
my priority and elegance and style follow.”
Asked who his dream client is,
Figueras was quick to reply, “Imelda Marcos.” Because his life,
so far, has been full of surprise twists and turns, Figueras
strongly feels that one day, the former first lady will one day just
drop by his Makati shop and order a gown.
Albert Figueras’s shop is
located at 1129 Antipolo Street, Rizal Village, Makati City. For
more information, please call 897-6762.
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