Vin Orias' Unconventional Path to Fashion Fame
Fashion designer Vin Orias considers 2023 as a breakthrough year for him, having successfully mounted his very first solo fashion show last October at the BYS Fashion Week. At the event, he unveiled his 2024 Spring Summer Collection, highlighting intricate pleating and tailoring techniques, delicate crochets, printed denims, textured vest tops, and oversized jackets. The looks were complemented by his signature solihiya bags.
“I feel like I’m already a legitimate designer because, for the longest time, I have considered myself a creative entrepreneur,” he says, elated about his accomplishment. The 40-piece collection was inspired by his personal taste and everyday experiences. “I want my pieces to be very relatable but possess a global appeal,” he offers.
It took him about four months to create the collection, selecting from over a hundred looks. For the show, he and BYS hired 40 models, 15 of them influencers and artists, including fashion blogger David Guizon, TV host Robi Domingo, and Miss Universe Philippines 2023 2nd runner-up Angelique Manto. Orias saw the show as an opportunity to gauge the public’s response to his creations, and the feedback turned out to be highly positive.
Another significant moment for him in 2023 was his participation in Manila FAME. “Back in grade school, I used to dream about showcasing my work there. Then, last year, that dream became a reality, and to top it off, I was featured on the main aisle. It was an incredibly humbling experience,” he fondly recalls.
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Engineering to fashion
Orias originally wanted to take up Fine Arts. But influenced by the practical demand for engineering courses at that time and inspired by his brothers’ choices, he opted to pursue Industrial Engineering at the University of Sto. Tomas.
It was during this period when he discovered a newfound interest in fashion styling and design. How? By exploring local thrift shops. “There were lots of jackets and suits in ukay stores. Doon ako naging interested sa tailoring at naisip ko to pursue fashion and focus on men’s wear,” he says.
Upon completing his undergraduate studies in 2009, Orias made a pivotal decision to further his passion by enrolling in a Fashion Design course at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines that same year.
But finding his place in the fashion industry wasn’t easy, Orias confesses. “I faced numerous rejections in my internships. I had the passion, but the opportunities were scarce,” he recalls. “That is why after graduating from fashion school, I made the decision to venture into entrepreneurship. Ang naging goal ko was to save up and eventually put up my own design studio.”
Devoting the initial years of his fashion career to mastering the technical aspects of the business, he established a small factory in Fairview, Quezon City, collaborating with fashion designers such as Rajo Laurel for subcontracting projects. Before long, he was already managing 40 to 50 sewers.
Finding his niche
The drawback of running a tailoring shop, he realized, was that it killed his creativity and passion. He felt a sense of exhaustion. “I realized na parang tumanda ako, sobrang napagod ako. Imagine, I was 24 years old and I was managing 40 people. It was overwhelming for me. I felt trapped in a system,” he reflects.
Sensing the need to “break free,” he decided to participate in various competitions and business pitches, delving into his skills in storytelling, marketing and branding. One notable highlight was his participation in Project Runway in 2015. He also studied Brand Identity at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York on that same year, which led to the launch of Orias Bespoke.
“What I’ve observed in the Philippines is that grooms often feel limited in their choices. They settle for what’s readily available. That’s why I developed a specialized design program for grooms, allowing us to discuss what they truly like,” he says. “I wanted to create something specific, curated, and personal for our grooms. That became my unique selling point when I established my own design studio in 2016.”
He has achieved a relative amount of success as a menswear designer. Orias Bespoke has become one of the go-to design studios nowadays for the weddings of the one percent. “I always tell people that we are not just a tailoring shop; we are a men’s wear design studio. Hindi ka papasok dito para pumili lang ng tela, susukatan kita, tatahian kita. No. We create a design that suits you; that’s what we do.”
Vision for Orias
Asked about his goals, the future fashion powerhouse expresses his desire for Orias to be recognized as a global brand. However, he acknowledges the need to consistently create collections and secure placements in luxury stores abroad to achieve this.
“For the next three years, my priority is to focus on bags and accessories before clothing. That's the target,” he shares. “I just want to inspire my colleagues, showing them that we can achieve this even without personal connections. Let go of the intimidation. I know it’s possible.”
His goal for 2024 is to establish a flagship store in a mall. “I aim to accomplish that in time for our eighth anniversary in June,” he tells us, beaming.
He envisions Orias evolving into a heritage brand, akin to Dior or Chanel. “I see Orias reaching that level. A hundred years from now, it will still be thriving,” he quips.
