Being an eco fashion designer is about taking fashion to new exciting places. Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino is doing just that with his unconventional approach to luxury women’s fashion. He’s showing the world that eco-friendly fashion doesn’t have to mean drab or neutral colours. So forget about beige for a minute, okay? There are so many materials and colours just waiting for expert hands to transform them into goddess gowns, and Tolentino is starting the movement.
Causing a Stir
At the Emmy awards this year, Oliver Tolentina was one of the names that seemed to be on everybody’s lips because of his unique and unlimited approach to fashion. He has been compared to big names such as Oscar de la Renta and Valentino. Besides for his style of strong silhouettes and feminine glamour, Tolentina specialises in eco-friendly fabrics.
Innovation Comes Standard
Tolentino introduces interesting fabrics into his designs, such as pineapple fibres, water lily leaves and abaca plant fibres. He won first prize at a Bali fashion Week in 2008 when he presented an outfit made of Philippine capiz shells and was also awarded with the 2010 Sustainable Eco Fashion Award in the Bahamas, to mention two accolades.
Will This Pineapple Dress Match My Shoes?
Tolentino’s pineapple gowns have been featured at many glittering Hollywood events, such as Global Green USA’s 9th annual Pre-Oscar party and L.A. Fashion Week. Recently when Tolentino dressed Entertainment News Extra host Maria Menounos for the Emmy Awards, the chosen design was a beautiful gown made of Filipino pina fabric that was dyed a gorgeous bright blue colour. About his dresses, Tolentino told Rappler.com, ‘I want the whole world to know that we Filipinos can make beautiful clothes using the local fabric pina.’
Tolentino has dressed many popular celebrities to date, such as Emmy Rossum and Kimora Lee Simmons.
From the celebration of what his country has on offer to the creation of amazing dresses that ensure the well-being of the planet, Tolentino shows how green is more than just a colour.
