DESIGNER PROFILE
Celebrating his return to Manila, Marc Rancy creates a collection that gives the spotlight to his ever-changing journey in the world of fashion
Marc Rancy reinterprets the Birth of Venus in his latest collection
Life is a series of turning points. We grow, we gain knowledge and use it to determine our life’s directions. Youth brings upon a bevy of possibilities: the dream to become a pilot, a doctor or even a president. As time goes by dreams become more focused and are backed up with expertise gained from introspection and experience. Once a dream is achieved naturally, the human reaction is to continue with it. But as destiny proves time and again, progressions aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes it means going back to the start and building a new dream from there. Such was the case for Marc Rancy.
The initial turning point in his life was his first dream: to be an architect. Believing that his love for drawing only fit in the profile of the said profession, he did not know that in 2006 he would change course when he was asked by a good friend to sketch a dress. Being a born entrepreneur,
“MY TIME IN PARIS ALLOWED ME TO DEVELOP A KEEN EYE FOR QUALITY—FROM THE STITCH QUALITY TO HOW GOOD THE DRESS DRAPES ON THE BODY, IT IS MY INNATE OBSESSION TO CHECK ON THESE THINGS ELSE” BEFORE ANYTHING
he didn’t just sketch the dress but also created the whole piece. It was in this project that ultimately led him to design after all the amazing feedback the dress got.
He furthered his craft by getting a design degree in Singapore’s Raffles Design Institute and then finished a dual-degree Masters in Fashion and Luxury Management in IÉSEG School of Management and Istituto Marangoni Paris. “My time in Paris allowed me to develop a keen eye for quality—from the stitch to how good the dress drapes on the body, it is my innate obsession to check on these things before anything else. This practice is, as the French would call it, ‘savoir-faire’.” he shared. And it was this developed eye that the likes of Véronique Leroy and Acne Studios were impressed by, leading him to join their teams. He enjoyed his time in Paris, but his roles in the big luxury houses felt one note. His dreams of Paris soon evolved into something bigger: he wanted to build his own luxury house back home, in the Philippines.
Soon enough he packed his bags and went back to Manila. His past clientele was eager for his return and welcomed him back with open arms. The relationships he fostered through the years built the couture house he could now call his own. But his eye for detail, unmatched technique and yes, his ever bubbly personality is what keeps the women coming back to his hallowed halls. The distinct Marc Rancy aesthetic, he shares was years in the making. “Before, I was really into very feminine designs: super sexy, a lot of lace and beading and a lot of skin. I exercised no restraint when it came to putting embellishments. Dr. Andra Clitan, my European professor during design school, was very instrumental to how I would shift my design sensibilities. My designs now have a more polished aesthetic, with simpler lines, and I try to use embellishment only when necessary. I believe that great dresses do not need hundreds of crystals to shine.”
This evolution gave birth to his first collection since coming back in 2018 entitled “The Birth of Venus”. Modelled by one of his muses, the actress Sanya Lopez, he shares that this collection is a form of nostalgia, of his growth as a designer and individual. Here, he infused haute couture techniques with his expertise in tailoring. Just imagine, the goddess of beauty showing not only ladylike sensibilities but also strength—two of the greatest qualities of a Marc Rancy design.
With a bevy of muses including celebrities such as Maymay Entrata and Sarah Geronimo, Marc Rancy is set to achieve his long-term dream of going global with his namesake brand. To get there, he believes strongly in investing in his people. Next year he hopes to get a bigger working studio that would not only allow more work, but also benefit his staff with more comfort and space. For Marc, technique and talent will always comes first when designing clothes. The success he is experiencing now is due to his dedication and kindness, not only to his clients, but also to his team. “Kindness matters. Especially in this industry, you get what you give. Be kind to everyone,” he says. “Respect those who have been in the business before you, and from whom you can learn a lot from.” We have no doubt his dreams will continue to flourish.
“BE KIND TO EVERYONE. RESPECT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS BEFORE YOU, AND FROM WHOM YOU CAN LEARN FROM A LOT”