by Vennette Lailani Seprado
“In God’s perfect timing” – this is a phrase we often read or hear about when couples talk about finding each other or taking their relationship to the next level. But the same can be said about famed designer Anthony Ramirez’s foray into the bridal business. He continues to have a lucrative career in the industry dressing luminaries such as “The Queen of All Media” – Kris Aquino to the country’s most beloved beauty queens. Wedding Essentials caught up with the talented designer as he begins an exciting chapter in his career with the launch of the Anthony Ramirez Bridal Collection.
As an established designer in the industry, we couldn’t help but wonder why it took some time for you to finally launch a bridal line?
“I think I’m the last designer from my batch to go into the bridal business. I didn’t plunge straight into the bridal market like my contemporaries because I wasn’t ready. I took some time to observe the trends and analyze my career path as a designer.”
Anthony recounts that in the past, brides and clients would come up to him to ask if he could be the one to make their wedding dress. Anthony understands how much the dress means to the bride, so he made sure that his aesthetic matches what the bride is looking for in her wedding dress. If they don’t match, he will honestly tell brides to find a designer who matches their style and aesthetic because they’re only going to get married once.
Now that you have your own bridal line, who is the Anthony Ramirez bride?
An Anthony Ramirez bride is someone who isn’t afraid to try out something new. She is someone who is comfortable to show a little bit of skin and try out non-traditional designs in terms of cuts and silhouettes.
My designs for this initial collection deals mostly with pieces that have a very innerwear feel to them. They are delicately embroidered, structured but also lightweight, which is a departure from the usual feel of regular ball gowns.
How many pieces are in your current collection and will you be able to customize the existing designs?
I currently have ten pieces in my collection and yes, we can customize. The good thing about brides nowadays is that they’re surprisingly very decisive. Once they see something they like, they’ll go for it with just minor adjustments to fit their style and preferences. They no longer want to go through the tedious process of months in advance for fittings and consultations.
I’ve opted not to do a ready-to-wear collection because it’s easy for us to replicate clothes. I want to keep the integrity of the bridal line and make it more special since we still have our pool of traditional clientele who want the full bridal treatment.
Looking at your collection, there seems to be a lot of lingerie inspired pieces. What or who was your inspiration for this initial offering?
I’m probably one of the last designers out there with no formal design training, so my approach to design and fashion is different. I have no rules to break because I’m unaware of any rules anyway. My design process is that I always envision a muse. I think of a certain kind of woman and imagine where she will be going or what she will be wearing. For this initial collection, I envisioned a more mature group of millennials who are carefree and fashionable.
Lastly, will you be present and involved in designing and executing the designs for brides?
Yes absolutely. This is easy for me to do because I’m used to the process of building rapport even after a dress has been made. In fact, my brand is quite well-known for providing home service for most of my clients, so going the extra mile for our brides will be no different.
Anthony Ramirez promises to bring something new to the table to cater to his existing clientele, as well as appeal to potential new customers. He plans on releasing two collections for his bridal line this year, focusing on presenting his pieces in a series of photo editorials instead of the usual fashion shows to establish the look and feel of his line. It may have taken him some time to establish his own bridal line despite his well known expertise in creating exquisite evening wear but it was definitely worth the wait.
