A Big Year Ahead
He is the designer to the stars, from the likes of Paris Hilton to beauty queens such as Pia Wurtzbach. It was no surprise that was hand-picked by the Miss Universe Organisation to be on the steering committee of the international beauty contest to be hel
planning stage. But for sure, one of my major roles is to involve our Filipino designers in ground to events, to showcase their wonderful creations. I want to show the world that the Philippines is a country full of very talented designers who can compete on the global stage. First of all, I have to deal with my busy schedule with my clients. I am a hands-on designer. I attend to my clients personally from the time their measurements are taken until the time the gown is released. So I have to let them know that they won’t be seeing much of me in January and have to ask for their full understanding. As early as January this year, when the MUO [Miss Universe Organisation] told us about their interest in holding the pageant here, Jonas Gafud and I and the rest of the team have been very busy with several meetings regarding this big event. Ground events for the Miss Universe candidates start on the second week of the month. It’s a tough role and very challenging at the same time.
You have dressed celebrities both here and abroad. What do you think attracts them to your style?
I think the opulence with elegance look of my clothes. My clothes are not too over-the-top. I employ a style of beading that is not too cluttered.
Where do you cull your inspirations from?
I love travelling. I get my inspirations from the places I visit. Every time I visit a particular country, I always research about its history, culture, and traditions.
If there is one word you would choose to define your design style, what would it be?
OPULENCE
Who do you want to dress right now and why?
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. I saw her once during one of my visits to London and I just adore her! It would be nice to add her to my list of clients. She is so elegant and very beautiful. For sure my gowns will fit her personality well.
What will 2017 be like for Albert Andrada?
2017 will involve a lot of shows here and more abroad. It will be a very busy year for me because of my grand gala show here in Manila, which is already in the planning stage. A very busy year and a very fruitful one for sure!