You are now entering Zara Street, where every odd bits and pieces become meticulous works of art by Marian Zara
This is an excerpt from MEGA’s November 2023 One To Watch
When designer Marian Zara says nothing gets left behind, she means turning every odd-come-short fabric into a new piece, such as patched denim jacket and pants, a crochet set, and other deconstructed ensembles.
“As an artist, finding my niche was one of the most difficult parts,” Zara admits. “I didn’t know my identity as a designer. I didn’t know where I was good at. I tried bridal and formal wear, but I wasn’t always that confident with the output. I just made clothes depending on what the client asked me—not until four years ago, when stylists asked me to make unique pants and jackets.”
Zara worked as a styling assistant a few years after studying fashion design and patternmaking at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. She had already ventured into fashion during college when she chose it for her thesis: making cocktail dresses using pre-loved denim and materials.
Back then, fashion for Zara only meant party dresses, gowns, and weddings. During her years of being an assistant, she had family and friends asking her to design their clothes—and that became her ultimate sign. Eventually, she took the risk and left her job to become a full-time designer.
“My current design ideology is to create streetwear pieces using wearable silhouettes and adding unique details,” Zara explains. “This collection shows what we can do with newly bought store fabric, cutoffs, and pre-loved denims. Every inch counts. What I love about the patched denim is clients can send their pre-loved denims and turn them into a new piece. By this, each piece can be more personalized and exclusive for them.”
Follow Marian Zara’s journey to becoming a streetwear designer in MEGA’s November 2023 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Creative Direction JONES PALTENG. Fashion Direction KAT CRUZ-VILLANUEVA and RYUJI SHIOMITSU. Beauty Direction MIA CASTRO. Photography SELA GONZALES. Hair and Makeup VHIO VILLARICA assisted by WADHA SALIH. Styling KURT ABONAL of NEW COLLECTIVE STYLE and BITHIA REYES. Model ALINA of WOMEN’S MANAGEMENT. Shot on location PROWESS SUPREMACY PRODUCTION INC. Sittings Editor BAM ABELLON. Fashion Writer MARIAN SAN PEDRO. Fashion Production BITHIA REYES. Editorial Assistant SAM ESTANIEL. Special thanks to LESTER of WOMEN’S MANAGEMENT.
