Francis Libiran is no stranger to creating wedding pieces. For 25 years, the fashion designer has dressed numerous brides and grooms, encountering different personalities, tastes, and fantasies. For his latest collection, dubbed “Covenant,” he aimed to marry all these elements, producing a line that caters to today’s soon-to-wed couples.
On Sept. 21, 2024, the collection was officially unveiled at the Grand Ballroom of the Nustar Convention Center in Cebu during the Fili Hotel’s inaugural “Beloved” wedding and celebrations fair. Much like a good love story, “Covenant” is divided into segments, creating a dreamy, glamorous parade of wedding garments on a runway decked with bamboo—a nod to the Philippine folklore of Malakas and Maganda.
“‘Covenant’ is a promise [by a couple getting married],” the designer said. “That’s why I named it ‘Covenant.’ It’s like the covenant of two people falling in love with each other.”
Here comes the bride
The runway show opened with pieces featuring French lace. Francis’ muses were dressed in garments that highlighted the beauty of linear patterns and floral motifs of the material. Adding drama and flair to the looks were headdresses and fascinators adorned with lace and floral appliqués.
The style fest continued with his minimalist take on bridal fashion. In this segment, the designer emphasized silhouettes, sending down the runway tulle gowns with ruching designs, a flowy column dress, and a satin ball gown adorned with charming bows.
Pieces with intricate embellishments also graced the runway. Cocktail dresses with crystal beading and dresses in lilac and blush brought a playful element to the show. Additionally, pieces featuring his signature Art Deco designs—an homage to his passion for architecture—were showcased.
“There are also a lot of colors. The third part is more of a blush color. I want to reach out to the brides who don’t want pure white but prefer a very light blush for their wedding dress,” the designer said. “For the last part, the embroidered one, it's also a blush, but the embroidery is in piña, so it's more Filipino.”
Something borrowed
For his designs for grooms, Francis borrowed elements he typically uses when designing for brides, aiming to highlight modern grooms’ preferences for their wedding attire. “I’m trying to move away from the traditional and give more options to grooms when dressing for their special day,” he told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle.
Examples include suits encrusted with pearls and some decorated with lace. He also featured tuxedos made from piña fabric, presenting a different marriage of style and material for the gents.
“What we did here is something very special… we created a non-traditional concept,” Francis said. “Usually, bridal fairs are all in pastel or white. But we did the opposite, dressing the ballroom entirely in black so everything stands out.”
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