Jose “Pitoy” Moreno (25 February 1930 – 15 January 2018)

n his lifetime, he dressed some of the world’s most powerful women: two Philippine presidents, several First Ladies of both the Philippines and the United States, the likes of Thailand’s Queen Sirikit and Princess Margaret of Britain— and with good reason.

Pitoy Moreno was a true master of fashion. He was an artist who believed in meticulous craftsmanship in all of his creations. His work was characterised by his extraordinary attention to detail, elaborate beadwork and embroidery, and the use of fabrics that were uniquely Filipino. He championed the Maria Clara silhouette and Rizal’s tragic heroine was the muse that inspired breath-taking gowns which took the world by storm in the ’70s and ’80s. In doing so, he transformed traditional finery into a timeless work of art.

Throughout the course of a stellar career that spanned decades, Moreno’s masterpieces made their way to international fashion capitals and into the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, paving the way for generations of Filipino designers into the world of haute couture. The 43 shows he mounted over the years featured a mix of traditional elements paired with au courant influences that prompted the French newspaper Le Figaro to call him ‘Asia’s Fashion Czar’—a title that, to this day, remains his alone.

With his death, the country has lost one of its greatest treasures. But we know that his spirit of creativity and innovation will live on in the creations he left behind and in the minds and hearts of everyone he has touched for generations to come.