The Filipino designer, who bagged the Metro.Style Special Citation Award for Fashion and Style at the recently concluded ArteFino, is known for her exquisitely embroidered piña and abaca pieces, all requiring intricate techniques done by hand. “This is our own loving interpretation of our culture’s grace,” shared the designer to Metro.Style in an interview for our Philippine textile fashion editorial. For the designer, there is no need to seek design inspiration from other cultures, when in fact, our country is already rich in heritage and resources. 

READ: The Dress Code Of The 2019 ABS-CBN Ball Is Modern Filipiniana—Here Are Our Red Carpet Trend Predictions!

he Dress Code Of The 2019 ABS-CBN Ball Is Modern Filipiniana—Here Are Our Red Carpet Trend Predictions!

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Photo: Bria Cardenas

Recently, Gabbie launched her collection Veronica—a deeply personal and intimate line she created as an ode to her late grandmother.

“These pieces began in a dream, and I’ve never dreamt of her since she passed away,” the designer quipped. Bits and pieces that remind her of Veronica—photographs and old notes, a vivid shade of red lipstick she wore to church, toothpicks she carried with her everywhere, and her garden full of bougainvilleas—inspired the collection.

Featuring Filipino silhouettes like the duster, the Barong Tagalog, and the tapis, Gabbie’s Veronica is a playful mix of classic and unorthodox, nostalgic and feminine. View the collection here:

Photos courtesy of Gabbie Sarenas PH