I remember shooting one of my earliest fashion features for Multiple Choice seven years ago. It was an article about the iconic color black. Blindly pulling things together for my column, everything was a logistical nightmare organized in a spur of the moment — from the photographer, makeup artist, models and wardrobe. Luckily, everything fell into place and all was set for the shoot. The day came and it was a stormy one at that, with flood threats on the news. Unfazed by the threatening weather, I called up the entire team informing them that whatever happens, there should be no cancellation. Braving the odds, I pulled out pieces from a store called X, owned by one of the country’s extraordinary designers, my dear friend Vic Barba. I was only able to get a few and needed a couple of pieces more so I called the late Mel Vergel de Dios (who at that time was a member of the Young Designers Guild) and asked him if he could recommend an aspiring young talent who had black dresses that I could use — thus the name Joey Samson came up. I called him immediately hoping with optimism that he might have some pieces despite the last minute notice. And with a positive note, I heard a yes and he would be bringing the dresses to the location. The shoot took place at a defunct habitue of style where fashion industry’s famous and infamous would gather to toast their martinis and get a dose of the latest gossip. Thirty minutes before our 7 p.m. call time, I was there to set up, and five minutes after, I saw someone entering the venue with eight garment bags slightly drenched from the rain. He came all the way from Cavite and with his faint voice, he went up to me and humbly introduced himself as Joey Samson.
Through the years I have come to know the soul of the artist and his journey through fashion. After graduating from SLIMS, he went into a seven-year apprenticeship with notable designer Danilo Franco. Shuttling every day from Cavite to Manila wasn’t logistically appealing but this added to the character and determination of the designer. His early exposures in the glossies and broadsheets paved the way for Samson’s recognition. He merited the attention of the people in the industry because Samson gave so much of himself — from conceptualization of ideas to actual involvement in various endeavors. Having been part of the YDG for several years led him to the discovery of his design identity. His journey to that discovery was turbo-propped by the knowledge he gained from mentorship. Through the years, the designer’s talent was left unnoticed. This led to several commissioned works for top ready-to-wear brands and the latest to date is with Human. Today, Samson is an active member of the Fashion Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP), a strong moving force in the local industry leading in the promotion, development and support of design talent in Philippine fashion, a creative consultant for F.A.M.E and an adviser for YDG. With all these at hand, the designer has been noted as one of the young outstanding mavericks in the industry.
Samson is a brilliant masterpiece in progress worthy of stellar attractions. Surfacing from the local fashion design landscape, the ingénue is a master in the making of fashion-forward tailoring statements. His re-inventive designs mimic the art of modern construction and abstraction that have caught the attention of discerning A-listers, industry insiders and style makers. The designer’s imaginative artistic expression on cut, silhouette and form reflects a seamless understanding of modern global fashion. In the last Philippine Fashion Watch series, his collection was an outstanding showcase of unexpected eclecticism in contemporary one-of-a-kind minimalist pieces. The show seemed like an artist’s creative journey inspired from body imperfections effectively translated into radical masterpieces of refinement. Ingeniously reshaping shape, constructing deconstruction and perfecting imperfections, Samson has defined clarity of vision and strength of aesthetics through his modest artistry.
Behind all this is design and fashion. The master in the making is a man of few words. Simplicity is his cadence of life that is mirrored by a minimalist lifestyle. In his silence lies an in-depth connection with modern Filipino art, classical music and culture. A keen observer of the industry, the artist is finely tuned in to the now and moves forward with it. For this acknowledged artist, there is relevance and substance in everything. Though his work entails a lot of scribbles, doodles and endless sketches, they come to life with so much soul — this is what Joey Samson is all about.
(E-mail the author at mymultiplechoice@yahoo.com)