Two brilliant Filipino designers: one is thriving in the London fashion scene, the other is a rising designer in Manila and beyond. John Herrera and Renz Reyes—who once faced within the four walls of a fashion school as teacher to student—reunites in the name of all things fashion and future
This is an excerpt from MEGA’s August 2024 Designer Profile
It’s been a year since I interviewed both of you. Renz was our One To Watch designer for July 2023 while John was featured in our March 2023 Issue. How has your design perspective changed since then?
JH: My evolution started when I immigrated to London. When I wanted to pivot my designs to a more wearable approach or perspective—DNA, if you want to call it that. It mattered more when I emigrated abroad because sales became an integral part of my business. Not that it wasn’t a huge factor before when I was in the Philippines. In the Philippines when you have established yourself, there’s so many facets where you can make money. But in London, I was relying heavily on the DNA of the brand. It became more wearable, accessible, and easier to handle.
RR: Since I did a show last week, I really honed the signature in my work. I really tried to utilize these signature codes and details to make the brand more identifiable and individual. Within the past year until now, it’s just me trying to solidify that image and just do the things that people know me for because I think that’s one of the biggest factors in having a brand—being unique and having your own signature.
I understand that you both knew each other way back. How did you two meet and what were your first impressions of each other?
JH: Can you remind me, Renz, what year you were in my fashion design class?
RR: I graduated from FIP in 2011 so I started maybe late 2010. That’s how I remember it.
JH: Over a decade ago! But, I remember Renz really stood out to me. I get a lot of students every season but I remember Renz distinctively because his look was already there. I thought this young designer already had a strong DNA—a point of view—which I latched on pretty early in the course. To this day, Renz was the only student that I actually asked for one of his sketches to take home with me. And it’s still with me at home to this day! I remember that his artistry was so prevalent that it inspired me. I seriously am saying this, not just because we’re doing this interview. But this is a decade ago, and I remember his work inspiring me to be a better illustrator and to have a more detailed illustration when designing my clothes.
RR: John was already one of the great designers of our time. It’s such a privilege having him as an instructor. During those early years in my design life, I’m lucky to be taught by the best designers in the industry and John is one of them. I love the creativity in his work. I really latched on to his work because he’s one of those designers that really goes for it and has a concept. These are the qualities and characteristics I was looking for as a young designer starting in this industry. I was looking to get inspired and John really inspired me—and he still does now.
What’s the greatest thing you learned from each other?
JH: Actually, before the shoot, I was asking him to teach me about pop-ups and even price points. We’re very practical and open about the business side of fashion because I belong to a generation of designers who were taught that in order to stand out, you have to have a distinct point of view. But, I wasn’t trained in the business side of things. Especially now, this is the age of pop-ups. Before, there was only one when I left the country before the pandemic. Now, there are so many.
I wasn’t involved or exposed to all these pop-ups before. But now, I’ve been hearing a lot about it and I’m asking Renz about which ones are good, which ones are for highly creative designs or people. I’ve been learning from him—that’s a full-circle moment for us. I’m asking him how to be more business savvy because I belong to the dinosaurs (laughs). You know what I mean? We’re the dinosaur age of designers. So yes, I’m grateful to him.
RR: I basically learned the fundamentals of fashion design from him because he was my instructor in basic fashion design. He really laid the groundwork for me. I knew I was a creative person, but I didn’t know fashion. I just knew what I saw in magazines or TV. But, he really gave me the building blocks so I could be here today. He was telling me earlier about the different pitfalls of the industry, that there are things that seem like one thing, but are not.
JH: We were talking about the fashion industry in Europe.
RR: It’s great that he’s teaching me this so I don’t make the same mistakes and that I can utilize and promote my clothes better.
Follow the conversation between designers John Herrera and Renz Reyes in MEGA’s August 2024 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed by SHAIRA LUNA. Creative Direction by MARIAN SAN PEDRO. Fashion Direction RYUJI SHIOMITSU. Beauty Direction MARIAN SAN PEDRO. Producer JONES PALTENG. Makeup JR CONSTANTINO. Hair PATTY CRISTOBAL. Styling Assistants KIRK LUCAS and SHELLA LIWANAG. Models MYRTLE LAGUSAD of MERCATOR and MARIA SANCES if LUMINARY MANILA.
