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Travel, food, health, fashion, beauty, and more Lifestyle stories you love.
Francis Libiran
Renowned fashion designer Francis Libiran, one of the more established names in the industry, is not immune to the realities of social media. From getting praise for his creations to harsh criticisms to fire and heart emojis, he gets all types of comments on these online platforms where everyone has an opinion.
“Nowadays, there’s a lot of bashers. Of course, it’s part of social media so you need to be prepared for those things because you cannot please everyone,” he shared in an interview with GMA Lifestyle at his atelier in Quezon City.
Referring to online “bashers”, these accounts share, oftentimes cruel, criticisms on someone’s post on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or other social media platform. Celebrities and famous personalities usually get the bulk of these negative opinions simply because they have public accounts that have thousands, if not millions of followers.
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For Francis, he avoids reading these comments because the less he knows, the less he gets affected.
“Some people don’t understand the creative process. It’s easy for them to judge whatever they see. If you’re firm in your creative process and you know the meaning behind it, you will never be affected by the bashers,” he explained.
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Social media, however, is not all that bad, according to Francis. It is because of these online platforms that young and experienced designers like him are able to put their designs out to the public with just a tap.
“Nowadays, it’s easier for a fashion designer to put their works on social media. For us, we have to knock on the doors of magazines and newspapers to be featured. You need to be very good at what you’re doing so the editors can see your work. Now it’s so easy, you just upload on social media. It’s more convenient for a designer in this generation to be known and put their work out there,” Francis opined.
Before Francis became a designer, he studied architecture at University of Santo Tomas. He admitted that he had to first convince his father before he could take up the liberal arts degree.
“The reason why I chose architecture in the first place was because I wanted a creative course and it’s either interior design or architecture during that time. My dad wanted me to pursue physical therapy but I really told him, it’s not for me. So I really fought for it,” he shared.
However, his interest in fashion design was already apparent when he was younger. He would look at fashion features in newspapers, cut the photos of clothes, and paste them on a sketch pad. He would search for the works of designers like Inno Sotto and Joe Salazar, the King of Philippine Couture.
After studying architecture he then studied at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines, taking up fashion design. According to Francis, starting a career in the fashion industry was very challenging especially during a time when exposure is only given to a select few established and outstanding designers. At that time, it was difficult to penetrate an industry that was full of vibrant talent.
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“I didn’t have contacts at that time as I was a starting designer. What I wanted was for my best work to be worn by an artist in the showbiz industry, that was my strategy before. But the struggle during that time was how can you get those contacts? You have to do the work, do the connections just to be able to dress up somebody in the showbiz industry,” he shared.
One of the stars that Francis considers helped his career was actress and TV host Anne Curtis. He dressed her for an event and that got his name on TV, newspapers, and magazines.
Since then, he has dressed some of the biggest celebrities here and abroad. He has dressed Kapuso stars Marian Rivera, Bea Alonzo, and Michelle Dee. He has likewise dressed Tyra Banks, Gwen Stefani, Billy Porter, Melanie B of the Spice Girls, just to name a few.
Francis Libiran is known for his design techniques that were inspired by architecture. His signature look includes art deco patterns, laser cutouts, and intricate details that he applies on his bespoke wedding gowns, couture dresses, and contemporary men’s suits. He also recently designed the Sinag barong, the costume Filipino athletes wore during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I’m known for designing with lines. I guess it’s my architecture background and that’s how I was trained. Conceptualizing through lines because lines create a big part in my design process. My identity, my DNA as a fashion designer, always starts with a single line because that line can create curves and it emphasizes the one who’s wearing it,” he said.
Last year, Francis showcased his Sterling Collection for his 25th anniversary as a designer. The collection includes beautiful beaded dresses and sparkling suits with phoenix details.
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For the future of his brand, he is looking beyond bridal clients and couture gowns, he is also looking to expand the company. One of his newest projects is the 1 OAK (one-of-a-kind) ready-to-wear (RTW) brand, which upcycles vintage curtains, tablecloths, blankets, and pillow cases creating unique pieces that are also environmentally friendly.
“We collect vintage tablecloths, place mats, curtains, even throw pillow cases. We patch it and make it into a nice fashion piece. If you create something like a nice shirt out of it, it creates an impact,” he shared.
According to Francis, he would keep his signature design in his brand because that’s what he is known for. His art deco patterns will stay and will be used not only on clothes but accessories as well.
“As I get older, I see the potential of the brand name and put on products that are not related to clothes but related to cosmetics and accessories,” Francis said.
The Francis Libiran Atelier is located in White Plains, Quezon City. The designer converted a house into his office and atelier where he meets his clients and displays his RTW items. He lives just minutes away from his atelier. Francis admits that he is a routinary person and starts his day very early.
Francis usually wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and he says before touching his phone, he closes his eyes and meditates. He then goes to the gym and then prepares himself to go to his atelier. He says that he is always excited about the preparations before work. He loves going to his closet, picking his clothes, and doing his routine.
“That part of the day is very meaningful for me because I really prepare my things before facing a meeting, facing a client, I need to be well presented, I want to smell good, I want to look good, and it makes me feel good when I’m talking to them,” Francis said.
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He usually arrives at the atelier at 10:00 a.m. to meet his clients. He meets his clients on an hourly basis and he would sometimes go to his factory, also in Quezon City, to check the progress of his creations.
At the end of the day he would meet with his friends and just relax and laugh over dinner and drinks. His only free time is on Sundays. He would go to church and play with his 10 dogs, all long-haired chihuahuas.
“My dogs are really special to me and I treat them like my kids. They have their own personalities and Sunday is the only time that I could let them walk around the house and be playful,” he shared.
Despite having more than two decades of experience in the industry, Francis admits that he still feels the pressure of being a veteran in the industry.
“Right now there’s more pressure in everything that I am doing and I feel that the longer I work in the industry, the pressure is getting higher and higher, bigger and bigger because whatever they throw at you as a project, you need to really think about it and make a mark in whatever you are doing,” Francis said.
