Hackneyed collections that have neither drama nor whimsy have characterized the designs on view of late. "There’s nothing that surprises you," sighs fashion anorak, Therese Mangosing. "It’s all just one banal movement of blah fashion."
It is precisely this environment that allows Kate Torralba, a young designer with no formal schooling in fashion, to shine. With her use of capricious colors, clever mix of fabric, and playful silhouettes, she has allowed neither the hackneyed collections nor the ennui of established designers to influence her work.
And time after time, her work is consistently fun and down to earth – not one smidgen of pretension enters her design agenda. "Kate’s work vindicates the need for style," observes Jonathan Ong, a media executive at a top network. He nods quickly, "After having been featured in so many magazines and newspapers, one would think that Kate’s work would be affected by it, but from what I’ve seen, it’s still as sweet and fanciful as ever."
Many fans of her work can attest to that. Corinne Allegre, managing editor of Young Star Magazine, regularly features her work in their publication, citing Kate’s streamlined looks – "She’s obviously a fan of ponchos and frilly feminine dress" – and her easygoing personality.
Perhaps what people have enjoyed most about her style – one that teenagers and an older more sophisticated clientele appreciate – is her innate understanding of what every woman wants. "[Many clients come to me and say] ‘make me something sexy or something red,’" she shares with Alya Honasan in an interview.
In the end, the only thing obvious in her work is a kind of joie de vivre, if you must, a sincere passion for – what else? – fashion.