Pia Wurtzbach Miss 'U' blue gown now worth over P1 M
Published Oct 2, 2018 12:53 am
By Robert Requintina
Believe it or not, the royal blue evening gown worn by Filipino beauty queen Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach when she won the Miss Universe crown in 2015 is now worth over P1 million.
This was revealed by Filipino designer Albert Andrada who created the gown during an exclusive interview in Tagaytay City recently.
"Without the Miss Universe title, it was roughly P180,000-P200,000. But with the Miss Universe title, it shoots up to more than P1 million. I'm saying this because somebody offered to buy it and the (national) costume as well," says Andrada.
Andrada said that three Filipinos have offered to buy Pia's gown displayed at his shop in Makati City. He did not identify them.
"There were three offers but I declined them. They just emailed me and they wanted to buy it. They are Filipino-Chinese. I regret that I can't sell it because it's part of my life already. It's part of my journey as a fashion designer," said Andrada.
He said creating a winning gown like Pia's has been a game changer for him because he got more clients.
"Everybody then wants to be Pia (Wurtzbach)," he says. What he meant was they want to be stunning as Pia. "They know that I cannot make a replica of the gown although some requested if they can have the same design. I declined."
But Andrada said that he is flattered that many designers have copied the blue gown.
"To my surprise, ang dami ring gumaya. It's so flattering because for me, I wouldn't be offended if they copy it because for them it's celebrating the triumph of Pia as Miss Universe. So that's the closest that they can get to it," he adds.
Andrada said he still creates gowns for the Filipino-German beauty queen. "Oh yes! Occasionally if she needs something I would make a gown for her."
Asked if he would still dress up other beauty queens aside from Pia, Andrada said: "Yes. But it depends. Because I don't want to have a comparison between Pia's gown and the other queens. If it's not for a competition, I would. But if it's for competition, I don't think I can."
Andrada said that he couldn't tell what kind of gown reigning Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray should wear in the prestigious competition in December because he has not talked to her.
"If I would dress up Catriona Gray, I have to talk to her deeply. That's what I did for Pia. There has to be a story line. So right now, I cannot answer you like what color because I still have to talk to her deeply because that's what I do with my other clients. There's always a consultation first so that I would know their personality and feel who they are before I make a dress," he adds.
Pia was crowned at the 64th Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20, 2015. She is the third Miss Universe from the Philippines.
This was revealed by Filipino designer Albert Andrada who created the gown during an exclusive interview in Tagaytay City recently.
"Without the Miss Universe title, it was roughly P180,000-P200,000. But with the Miss Universe title, it shoots up to more than P1 million. I'm saying this because somebody offered to buy it and the (national) costume as well," says Andrada.
Andrada said that three Filipinos have offered to buy Pia's gown displayed at his shop in Makati City. He did not identify them.
"There were three offers but I declined them. They just emailed me and they wanted to buy it. They are Filipino-Chinese. I regret that I can't sell it because it's part of my life already. It's part of my journey as a fashion designer," said Andrada.
He said creating a winning gown like Pia's has been a game changer for him because he got more clients.
"Everybody then wants to be Pia (Wurtzbach)," he says. What he meant was they want to be stunning as Pia. "They know that I cannot make a replica of the gown although some requested if they can have the same design. I declined."
But Andrada said that he is flattered that many designers have copied the blue gown.
"To my surprise, ang dami ring gumaya. It's so flattering because for me, I wouldn't be offended if they copy it because for them it's celebrating the triumph of Pia as Miss Universe. So that's the closest that they can get to it," he adds.
Andrada said he still creates gowns for the Filipino-German beauty queen. "Oh yes! Occasionally if she needs something I would make a gown for her."
Asked if he would still dress up other beauty queens aside from Pia, Andrada said: "Yes. But it depends. Because I don't want to have a comparison between Pia's gown and the other queens. If it's not for a competition, I would. But if it's for competition, I don't think I can."
Andrada said that he couldn't tell what kind of gown reigning Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray should wear in the prestigious competition in December because he has not talked to her.
"If I would dress up Catriona Gray, I have to talk to her deeply. That's what I did for Pia. There has to be a story line. So right now, I cannot answer you like what color because I still have to talk to her deeply because that's what I do with my other clients. There's always a consultation first so that I would know their personality and feel who they are before I make a dress," he adds.
Pia was crowned at the 64th Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20, 2015. She is the third Miss Universe from the Philippines.