Rajo Laurel’s 38th collection—simply called “38”—takes inspiration from his recent adventures in Hawaii and the Amalfi Coast where the spectacular horizon takes one’s breath away, pristine beaches dazzle, and lush foliage are abundant. With proportions that prompt fluid movement, the collection instantly reminds us of a blue-sky holiday—we could almost smell the rugged shoreline.
Below, the designer talks about his latest collection in detail. Read on!
IMAGE Rajo Laurel
Your collection was inspired by your trip to Hawaii and Amalfi Coast. What in particular were you fascinated by that eventually fed into your collection?
“What I found fascinating were the difference between the tourists and those people who actually live there. The difference is really quite spectacular! I played with the question, ‘What if I was on a perpetual holiday? How would I look like?’ I also loved the way the colors reacted to the light in Southern Italy. I also [saw] a sense of pure style with the older surfers in Hawaii. In a way, when I am travelling I am always outdoors as compared to [when I’m in] Manila where I tend to be always indoors. This change of environment really created an impact with this collection. A sense of freedom and a feeling of ease permeated my mind while I was designing.”
IMAGE Rajo Laurel
How many pieces are in the collection?
“The key pieces would have to be the dresses. Summer for me has always been about the dress and there is this sculptural quality with the dresses we made this season. There are like moving waves of light. Like a sense of moving sculpture. I will be showing around 45 looks for the show but the entire collection actually is around 168 pieces.”
IMAGE Rajo Laurel
What are the key elements of this collection?
“The key elements would be the sense of proportion, which is generous and has great volume. You will also see a lot of textural pleating as I just acquired an amazing pleating machine that does these beautiful things with fabric. I also will be doing a few elements on knotting, drawstrings, and tying. Finally, I had fun with layering pieces together creating brand new proposals on how we look at the coming season.”
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IMAGE Rajo Laurel
Do you have a favorite piece from this collection?
“I love the sculptural dresses that created these bold, new shapes specifically on the shoulders and the sleeves. I also loved these little tiny balls that dangle on some of the dresses. I found those really quirky and fun.”
IMAGE Rajo Laurel
Could you describe the woman you had in mind while designing the collection?
“I designed the collection for my clients! My woman has always been this strong, fiercely independent woman with great attitude. She loves color and is not afraid to take chances. She is confident, smart, and has strong family values. My sisters and mother always come to my mind when I design a collection, too.”
IMAGE Rajo Laurel
This collection features a lot of oversized and fluid silhouettes. So for you, how can a woman dress sexily without showing too much skin?
“What is sensual and sexy for me is that of a suggestion rather than an overt over-exposition of skin. Often what is hidden is far more provocative than the obvious.”
IMAGE Rajo Laurel
As a fashion designer, how do you get unstuck creatively?
“I escape and I travel. I take a pause, breathe, and go where I am unfamiliar with. It is when I am in a brand new place where the inspiration truly flows.”
IMAGE Rajo Laurel
What helps you get in the zone when you’re designing?
“Deadlines! (Laughs) However I also like to design first thing in the morning after a night of restful sleep.”
Launch the gallery below to view his entire collection!
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