Known for his high taste in fashion, Francis Libiran gives a sense of luxury through his garments. This earned him to be a household name among many A-list celebrity clients and society patrons, not only here in the Philippines, but also in Hollywood and beyond. This time the international Filipino couturier is taking a different design route by producing his first gender-fluid streetwear collection.
Dubbed as “8 by Francis Libiran,” the collection is designer's bold leap from his ethereal world as he merges street culture with haute couture. As the local fashion industry strives to keep going amid the pandemic, fashion designers are testing new aesthetics and breaking out of their design profiles to give new styles that will comply with the demands of today's market.
“These are extraordinary times. As a designer, I am abreast of what is currently happening in the world so I thought of designing something that many people would choose to wear every day,” Francis says. “The designs are stylish, comfortable, and functional without sacrificing luxury.”
One of the things Francis considered in crafting the line is to make it genderless. This is not the first time he dabbled in creating designs that blur the line of gender barriers. Just checked some of the pieces he did for Pose star Billy Porter.
“For the first collection, the designs are androgynous because I believe that style has no boundaries,” the designer explains.
“8” features oversized urban pieces with a nod to sportswear, all in hues of dark neutrals with jolts of tangerine, blue, and yellow. Hoodies are made edgier with the addition of cargo pockets. Unisex slouchy tailored jackets are to be opted for a more refined street vibe. Don't forget those cool tote and body bags.
“We are on a test run on the items we produced and so far, we are so happy at the response,” he says. “As a matter of fact, some of the items are running out of stock already and we have to produce new stocks quickly!"
Francis knows that the key to his success in the industry is by constantly innovating while staying true to the aesthetics of his brand. The designer dedicates “8 by Francis Libiran” to a new generation of consumers who lives in the new normal, recognizes the culture of youth, and embraces genderless fashion.
Shop the collection online via shop.francislibiran.com.
Images are from @8francislibiran.