• Home
• /
• Entertainment

Look good feel good

Today, the grown-up Happy is still passionate about clothes and her collection in last summer's Philippine Fashion Week got good reviews.

Also a hit were the Converse-type shoes she designed for her graduation collection. According to Happy, people rushed backstage right after the show to purchase the shoes. "I didn't expect them to go that fast."

Happy gets her inspiration from anything and everything around her. Any object could inspire her, a lantern which could be the basis for the look of a skirt or a ribbon which could be the inspiration for a dress. In her latest collection, she reveals features that are a "perfect blend of Asian gaiety and Western pulse."

"My inspirations are Chinese royalty, gymnasts and kung-fu fighters combined with punk. It's punk royalty," she points out. For this collection, Happy used materials such as organza, satin, Chinese silk, and French taffeta. Though she finds the limited availability of textiles in the local market frustrating, Happy is undaunted and loves to work with different materials. "I like mixing different prints, textures and colours. Although I'd say my ultimate favourite is mixing plaid Thai silk with denim, like what I did for my Philippine Fashion Week collection."

Happy admires the works of Christian Lacroix, John Galliano, Betsey Johnson and Agatha Ruiz de la Pride. "I would also love to collaborate with Happy David on a project. It would be great to combine her accessories with my clothes. Happy accessories + Happy clothes = Happy Happy," she says.