DESIGNER PROFILE
Dreams have always been elusive and yet, Kat Corpus captures each and every one that lands on her desk, waiting to be given forms of lace, chiffon, and other intricate embroidery.
Photographs DOC MARLON PECJO Direction and Styling REYNALDO SANTOS & MA TERESA SANTOS THE WEDDING STYLIST Assisted by FAYE RAMOS Make-up APPLE FARA-ON Model TATIANA YARTSEVA OF WOMEN’S FOLIO MODEL MANAGEMENT Accesories CHRISTOPHER MUNAR
Dreams have always been elusive and yet, Kat Corpus captures each and every one that lands on her desk, waiting to be given forms of lace, chiffon, and other intricate embroidery. 12 years into the fashion industry, the triedand-trusted designer crafts bridal garb for women like a master dream-weaver. Whatever your story, Kat fashions your life’s hopes and fantasies into timeless, romantic, elegant pieces that tell personal tales of love and happy endings.
Her story, too, started with a dream. As a child, Kat nurtured what would be her lasting curiosity for fashion by sketching wedding dresses and princess gowns. Later, she would get her break in the industry designing for local celebrities like Lorna Tolentino, Camille Prats, Jaya, and Shaina Magdayao for their Sunday noontime shows SOP and ASAP. Sleepless nights and demanding deadlines marked her beginnings— “There were a lot of trials,” she said, “Especially making clothes for a noontime show, which required us to finish clothes [in] barely two days, making all the impossible possible”—but that did not keep her from pursuing her childhood whim.
Fueled by her lingering ambitions and her own blissful marriage, Kat decides to take a rest from the TV scene to finally be part of people’s love stories through what she does best. “My own wedding, my own love story is my inspiration. I want every bride to have that same wonderful experience. My husband has always been supportive of me. He’s been part of every accomplishment,” she gushes, “I’m a hopeless romantic, so weddings really make my heart skip a beat.”
Kat reveres every woman, and it shows in how she approaches her designs. While it is easy to resort to templates and trends in a time where clients have become more fickle and demanding, she executes every request with the patience of a true craftswoman.
She employs handcrafted techniques to ensure that each design exudes a unique, personal touch that not only boasts of the designer but also uplifts the woman in whatever occasion.
Good design, to Kat, is being able to customize a design to suit and accentuate a woman’s best qualities and features, making her confident in every stroll and stride. “Each piece that I make is designed for a specific person. I use her character and persona as the main inspiration,” she says.
While inspired by others, she maintains her artistic need for expression. Her latest collection “Amour De Rêve”, a lookbook comprised of feminine pieces with a subtle spunk and hints of unpredictability, exhibits Kat’s current status in life and romance: happily married to her dream love.
“All my dreams, my aspirations, my passions—i’ve put into this collection,” she says.
But she’s not stopping there. Constantly fulfilled by the purpose her craft brings—“to be part of one’s wedding as they start a family, to be part of someone’s debut as they blossom into a woman, birthdays, baptisms, and all other events is something I truly treasure,” she says—kat looks forward to designing for as long as she can. Always in search for new stories and techniques, Kat hopes to leave her mark—if she hasn’t already.