CDN PHOTO/EDD BUENAVIAJE
SHE’s slowly carving her own niche in the fashion industry.
From a reality TV stylista, Celine Borromeo is a step closer to her dreams, having recently joined the House of Natori. An enviable milestone for the stunning 22-year-old Cebuana, who not too long ago nervously faced the judging panel for the auditions of Project Runway Philippines Season 4 and took a shot at the top prize.
When the competition was over, Celine landed in the Top 3. Although she may not have bagged the plum award, she made everyone notice her, with her own sense of style and determination to make her mark.
And now, she’s out to prove that she’s no one-hit wonder. “I’m just going to continue building myself,” she said.
How is it working for international designer Josie Natori?
It is a great opportunity to work with Natori. She is internationally recognized, she specializes in ready to wear, couture, evening wear, and there’s so much that I can learn from her.
I have been working for her in just two weeks and I have already learned so much.
You must be pretty occupied…
I am busy juggling my internship for Josie Natori, as well as with my clients. I’m basically adjusting to a nine-to-five job. It has always been my dream to work with her and now I’m doing this apprenticeship.
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from her so far?
She keeps flying back and forth, from here to New York. She is in New York now and I caught with her for only two days since I’ve started, because she has to fly out. But what I’ve learned so far from working there… I have been with the design team, so we work with the pieces from scratch, from conceptualization to mood boards, patterns and placements … everything. So I am learning the process and everything about retail that’s produced from scratch, which is really a good thing because at the end of the day I really want to do retail and ready-to-wear.
What’s the Celine Borromeo design philosophy?
It maybe is an overused phrase, but for me, it has always been “less is more.” I am quite a minimalist designer and I would describe my aesthetics as a balance between feminism, minimalism and class.
Where did you get this creative inspiration?
It sort of just developed, really, but I have always been inspired by the House of Dior. Ever since I was a kid I have always been amazed on how they applied the whole feminine silhouettes at the same time have that modern and classy taste to it. It’s the entire understated elegance, that’s exactly what I would want to do and that’s what draws me as a designer—it’s also what I want to put out to the world.
Being in a reality show like Project Runway can be very tough but you did not buckle down. What’s your secret?
I don’t know! I guess I felt more excited than being pressured although the judging was very scary. Every judging day I really thought that I was going home. It was that scary! Because you have no idea whether the judges would love or hate your pieces, and that alone is very scary.
Tell us what does go on behind a reality show?
It does somehow get into you, not to mention the hectic schedule. We would shoot for two days and then rest for a day, then go back to shooting for another two days, plus we have to wake up at five in the morning and we would go home from the studio at 1 a.m., so we only have lunchtime to rest. On the third episode when I got a fever, I really thought of backing out and they had to send me home early. I just told myself that this is such a huge opportunity, I had already gone that far and the fact that I was accepted and be part of the competition, to be considered as one of the top fifteen in the Philippines is already a big thing and I really need to push that. I needed the competition as my platform since I am a young designer and just starting out, I need to do what I can to put myself out there.
How did you pull yourself together amid all the pressure?
Well, actually, we have an option to go to Mass every weekend and only three of us went to Mass. I do think that Him above played a big part in backing me up in the competition so I can’t be more thankful for the opportunity that He gave me.
CDN PHOTO/EDD BUENAVIAJE
How’s life in Manila?
Adjusting to Manila is tiring. Half of my family is in Manila with me. Good thing my Mom is with me along with my two brothers. Here in Cebu, it’s just my dad and my older brother. Nothing beats Cebu. I love Cebu! I miss speaking in Bisaya. Ngadto sige ko og ka nosebleed speaking in Tagalog.
When did you realize that you wanted to be a designer?
It started when I was really very young, with my Barbie. Like those typical little girls playing with their Barbies, and then one day I ran out of clothes for them. I asked my Mom if she can buy more clothes for my dolls and she refused saying that I already have a number of them and I may as well make clothes for them. So one day she gave me this little sewing kit with tela as well as needles and threads inside so ever since my creative juices started flowing and my Mom has been very supportive. I just kept designing after that.
Tell us the story of your first client.
This was two years ago. She attended this wedding and I made her a dress in jersey or spandex. It had a deep L-back, a dress on the minimalist side. It was a really big wedding in Shangri-La here in Cebu and a fashion magazine covered the wedding. At the end of the day, she was included in the best dressed list.
Is there a local designer that you look up to?
I really appreciate the feminine understated elegance of Vania Romoff. I believe we share the same taste. I really appreciate her works.
What colors are you into?
I am a big fan of neutrals but if it’s really colors gyud, I prefer them dark, like wine red, dark green, or navy blue.
Any celebrity that you want to dress up?
I would love to dress up Gwen Stefani and Victoria Beckham. I love their style, though in reality there’s no need for me to style them since they are both designers, too. I really love the way they put themselves out there as style icons.
What’s the adage that you live by?
My motto is to always believe in yourself and to always surprise yourself. That’s what I always apply during the competition. Going back to the competition when I feel like giving up, I always remind myself to just finish it and know that I can always do it.
Was it always your plan to be a part of a reality show?
I grew up watching Project Runway and watching everything before on TV. To me it seem unreal, siguro it’s because you are cozy and just at the couch. And then when I found out that they were holding auditions here in Cebu, I remember it was at Movenpick, I thought to myself to try out and see how it would go and see if I have a chance. It was all about seeing my chances so I called out my friend Joyce Maw. She was also a contestant and we happen to be neighbors. We went to college together.
How did the auditions go?
When you walk into the room, you are supposed to present three pieces that you’ve made, and there was Jojie Lloren in front of you as well as two personalities from ETC. There was the cameras also. It was a lot of pressure. Back then I was really shy. I was stuttering the whole time. I had to pause a lot of times and say to them, “Give me a moment, please.” I needed to find the words.
So there, I just presented my pieces to the designer. They don’t really tell you what they think. They would just look at you, nodding, small talk… pretty much, that’s it.
CDN PHOTO/ EDD BUENAVIAJE
And when you received that call that you had been accepted?
I was ecstatic! I wasn’t expecting it because coming in, I did not expect that I would be part of it. When I got the call I was shocked. I was just happy that I did that audition because at the end of the day it was mainly me and myself. Ultimately, it was me surprising myself… that I was actually able to do it, hence my motto. So it really does work for me.
What’s your favorite moment in the show?
It would have been the last challenge during the finale. It was for the Top 4 where after the challenge they send the last person home and on for the Top 3. I actually did the worst during that challenge and I admit it was the worst piece that I made because it was all about doing an avant garde piece, and doing avant garde is so far out from my aesthetic. So I really struggled with that. The judge did not like it but there was a twist during that same day wherein we had to make a ready-to-wear version of the avant garde piece, which I also did not do well. At the end of the day I really thought I was going home. I had the worse comments. Pero the judges turned to me and said that they will give me another chance. The fact that they believe in you so much, and they gave you that chance, it really meant a lot. I cried.
The reality show is over and on to the real life. How did you keep up?
I think I have the advantage of age. I am still 22 so I am fortunate enough to have found my passion this early and to have actually started working on my passion this early, making it a career. So I am just going to continue building myself, receiving clients, doing more shows. Maybe I’ll join more competitions since there are always opportunities to become better and rise up.
What’s your message to aspiring designers?
If you have the passion and a dream, go for it. Because you will never know where it will take you… and many times it will take you really far. Constantly, you are just going to be surprised with yourself, and constantly, you are going to be happy with the outcome. At the end of the day, when your passion is your job, it will never feel like work.
