Laos' stepping stone to fame

Reynier Necesario Abello, a Filipino self-taught clothing designer based in Phnom Penh who founded Armada-Asia, sought to broaden his horizons with a show at Lao Fashion Week last month.

Abello said that, as well as the exposure his firm got at the event held at Vientiane’s Settha Palace Hotel, Lao Fashion Week affords a good opportunity for Southeast Asian designers and Lao in particular to “compare notes”, share ideas and see what’s happening internationally.

An outstanding characteristic of Abello’s clothes is that they reflect his love of the theatre. He highlights curves and volume in celebration of the shape of a woman’s body while conveying gothic and dramatic moods.

Lao Fashion Week is intended to not just foster the local industry’s development but also to give participating foreign designers the chance see what’s going on in Laos. The country is developing rapidly in the field and its designers are showing great potential. New talents are constantly emerging and many of them can expect to feature on the international stage in the future.

Like Thailand, Laos is renowned for its “traditional” fabrics, especially silk, which interest Abello.

Armada-Asia’s spring-summer collection boasts 28 different styles, all adorned with butterflies and flowers to evoke the seasons and nature. Abello said he expected the Vientiane show to attract interest from other countries both for his brand and others.

On hand for the show were Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Razmountry and several foreign dignitaries. Apart from Armada-Asia, collections were displayed from Kinnaly Design, Voravaj Bangkok, An Hnien and Dieu Anh.