FURNE ONE

MEGA Icon Award in Fashion

With a certain ominous tone to his name, it can be very easy to get intimidated by master couturier, the luminous Furne One. It doesn’t get any less daunting as practically affixed to his celebrated line, Amato Couture, are stellar names such as Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and of course, the Queen B herself, Beyoncé. But before you could even wince or be rooted stiff in a fit of being starstruck, the Dubai-based but very proudly Filipino designer will be the first person to shatter all these preconceived notions with a warm, almost shy smile and a genuinely affable personality.

A suspension of disbelief strewn aside, it can be fittingly unnerving that the fashion hero to many is for lack of a better term, just like the rest of us. Coming up from a regal perch, he shakes his golden mane of hair and inches towards some of the biggest, boldest and brightest names in local show business who by now are draped in his intricate pieces that are a fairytale fantasy realized.

It is easy to get lost in the awe-inspiring creativity and ingenious engineering that threads through his exquisite and provocative creations, but if you catch his gaze, you will not miss a glint of childlike wonder in his eye as he goes over every little detail with unequalled precision and care.

Today, he is celebrated all over the world as a source of pride—and with very good measure, too. But the passion from the first ever winner of the MEGA Young Designer’s Competition still thrives just as much, if not more than before, constantly seeing the beauty and magic come alive in each garment that he creates to this day. And more than anything, in a world where one is easily taken by the glitz and glamour, Furne One remains to be the same bright-eyed young boy who first interfaced with this beloved world of fashion through sketching dresses at 10 years old.

Furne One is an icon, bar none. But aside from the glowing representation to the man of design that he was, is and will be, it is the beaming sense of inspiration that brims from him that is most admirable.—ARDC