On a drizzling Saturday afternoon, I headed over to Sassa Jimenez’s posh atelier at San Lorenzo Village to trade thoughts with a designer who has been touted as one of the fashion industry’s brightest young stars. Having shown twice at Philippine Fashion Week, her collections have always focused on the feminine and the romantic, marrying classic silhouettes with an edgy and playful twist that always says “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” To add to that, her previous show at Philippine Fashion Week that drew inspiration from burlesque icon Dita Von Teese merited the designer an impressive standing ovation — a feat that only happens at the onset of true promise, great courage, and of course, getting by (and noticed) with a little help from friends.
Over tea and cheesecake at her enchanting Cynthia and Ivy Almario-decorated space, we caught up on everything from her move to Los Angeles at a young age, to her design influences, our Gossip Girl generation, and what it means to be a young designer in a rapidly changing world.
PHILIPPINE STAR: How would you describe your design philosophy?
SASSA JIMENEZ: When I design, I’m very mindful of the materials that I use. But more than the technical stuff, I just want to make something that’s different but not too avant-garde that people don’t get to wear it all. And something fun, ‘cause clothes should be fun.
Three adjectives to describe your style.
Classic. Romantic. Edgy. And young. Okay, that’s four! (Laughs)
Paint a picture of the modern woman. How does your fashion figure into it all?
Aside from a woman being home or working, I think a woman should be out and about from time to time — where she can dress up and be proud of her body. Because now we’re so well documented. We have pictures of ourselves taken every day. You want to be wearing something nice when you’re photographed. It’s a Gossip Girl era we’re living in.
Did you always want to become a designer?
Not really. I went through this phase where I wanted to be everything — a chef, a filmmaker, a painter. But it was always design-based. I only really got into fashion when I went to school. That’s how I learned how to make clothes and how the market works.
Where’d you go to school?
I went to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) in L.A. But before that, I went to Ateneo for a year to take up creative writing. And of course, Colegio San Agustin.
Kids our age, they usually want to go to New York, especially to take up fashion. Why the move to L.A.?
At first, for comfort. The weather. And I have family there. And it’s a less scary place to move to as compared to New York. That would have been a big-city-little-girl kind of thing. And the way they teach in L.A., it’s more similar to Manila. Everything is mass-produced. Everything is made in China. As opposed to New York, they focus on the art and the couture — which doesn’t really sell a lot here. You have to be mindful of people’s budgets, where to have things made, and how to source your materials well because we have limited resources.
Who are your role models in your chosen field?
Locally, Rajo (Laurel). Because he’s an amazing designer and he’s also a great businessman. He’s created this empire under his name. And I think that’s the most difficult part of the business — to actually be profitable. It can only be fun for a certain time but you’d have to earn a living.
Internationally?
One of the bigger fashion houses like Balenciaga or Lanvin.
Favorite bands?
Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Beatles. Ang dami. I like the old school alternative, ‘90s rock, grunge, Smashing Pumpkins.
What would be normally playing in your iPod when you’re designing?
I like it when Nikko Pedro (referring to our common friend who made this interview possible) is talking in the background. (Laughs) It’s a mixture of things. Sometimes sad — like really heart-wrenching. Or something soothing.
Comment on music and fashion. Are they intertwined?
They are. In a lot of ways. A lot of musical people started trends like Lady GaGa with her shades and panties. Kanye West with his leather gloves and his shutter shades. And Britney with her panty outside her jeans. They can start and end trends.
Is it difficult working in the fashion industry at your age?
With the design aspect, I think you can practice that stuff in school. But managing your accounting, your work, that’s the hard part. Scheduling your day, keeping your employees happy, especially since I’m like half their age. It’s hard to command people who are a lot older than you. But you have to step up and show that you’re a responsible person, and that you know what you’re doing.
As a young designer, what do you think sets your generation apart from the older generations?
I think now, it’s easier to learn fashion. Because a lot more people are aware. And education is so available. There’s SoFA. There’s LaSalle International. There’s Benilde. And it’s a lot easier now to study abroad. It’s easier to get inspired. There’s the Internet. Our communities are mixed. When you go shopping, there are so many stores to look that. All the foreign brands are already here. Fifteen years ago, we only had Giordano and Benetton.
Given that, is there still a place for the older generation in our Gossip Girl world?
Of course. Their struggle to hone all their skills that are easily learned by younger people is a very big advantage. They have wisdom. And experience is still the best teacher.
What is it you hope to communicate with your clothes?
Don’t be afraid to wear something that’s slightly different from what you’re used to. You don’t have to wear really avant-garde pieces. Just try something different. Don’t hide behind the clothes. Have fun with it.
Finally, where do you see yourself in five years?
I’ll have longer legs — whatever it takes. Fierce!
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Catch your breath and let me know what you think at imcalledtoffee@mac.com.