DREAM HOUSE
While most people crumble under pressure, there are those who seem to thrive on stress. Designer Ryan Chris Bay len—owner of RYAN CHRIS™—is one such workaholic who admits he can’t live without stress. This is how he has managed to grow a modest gown rental shop into a chic RYAN CHRIS ™: a chic bridal shop that caters to the modern day Filipina.
Baylen originally started out with Ryan Chris Gown Rental, a small boutique in the outskirts of Punta, Sta. Ana Manila. Since then, he has expanded the fledgling shop into into a group of business units that have been collectively named the Ryan Chris House of Fashion.
Under this group are housed RYAN CH RI S™, The Manila Grand Rentals, and Ryan Chris Weddings & Events. The group offers a portfolio of custom-made wedding outfits, rentals, and events operated by an extensive team of business executives, an in-house production unit, and sales associates.
“I guess the turning point was when I finally transferred my shop from our house in FY Manalo St., Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila to a more accessible location in New Panaderos. This was primarily because I’d like to offer comfort to my clients. Today, we are already occupying three leasable spaces in the same block setting, beside my own office, to accept clients, a bridal studio, and rentals,” Baylen explains.
The designer’s days are usually spent overseeing his businesses, doing quick rounds and touching base with different units of the group, such as the production, rental, and design teams. Afterwards, Baylen makes himself available for client meetings. During weekends, he strategically schedules fittings alongside events, which Baylen personally supervises, together with his business executives.
From his intricately detailed collection dubbed “Ofrendas de Flores” shown at the “Engaged: Bridal and Beauty Fashion Weekend Expo” at One Esplanade to his modern and minimalist take on a fairy tale-inspired bridal collection called “Ethereal—the Tale of Bridal fantasy,” Baylen’s creativity and passion have been showcased to much acclaim.
With its chic and classy designs, RYAN CH R IS™ has gained a growing number of clients, including local celebrities like actor Christian Bables, who wore one of Baylen’s designs during the Chicago Film Festival.
And to maintain the quality of his work and to manage expectations, Baylen sees to it that he is personally involved in the process when it comes to handling clients.
“My goal is to deliver beautiful brides, so I guess the best way is to work alongside them during the entire process: from the design, production, and fittings, I’d make sure that I am present. Plus, as part of our belief system that customer is king, we’re always open to all types of requests, even if they seem impossible,” shares Baylen.
Through hard work and determination, Baylen has achieved the once seemingly impossible and is now going beyond the scope of his dream to help others.
“[My brand] is a dream, I consider it more of a passion than a business. But as a business, we have evolved as an engine: not only to make beautiful brides, but to help the community. Last year, we launched the Ryan Chris Foundation with an objective to inspire people from all walks of life to continue dreaming.
Our last show was dedicated to funding a portion to build better classrooms for Tomas
Earnshaw Elementary School, my alma mater and where the dream all started.”