Francis Libiran is celebrating 25 years in the fashion industry this year. His silver anniversary as a fashion designer is already a golden moment if one considers his two new recent achievements — the opening of his flagship store, over 100 square meters big, at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, and the launch of his much-awaited Francis Libiran 2024 Spring-Summer ready-made bridal collection.
“Our 25 years prove that weddings are still our core business,” Francis says. And weddings in the Philippines now are not only celebrated in the “marry” months of June and December, they are affairs of the heart “celebrated the whole year round.”
Francis’ excitement about his craft — and making people happy with his design — is a proof of his staying power in the business.
“Growth is inevitable. Opening our biggest store at Shangri-La Plaza (on the fourth floor of the East Wing) is another milestone. We aim for further expansion in the future. This is a part of the dream expansion we’ve always had. We’re happy to grow and build a legacy from this brand.”
With the store unveiling comes the highly anticipated Francis Libiran Bridal 2024 Collection. From classic elegance to contemporary charm, soon-to-be brides can discover their ideal gown.
As an architect, he has always been fascinated by diverse architectural structures. These details served as inspiration for the new collection. Even during his travels, Francis remains open to inspiration.
“This collection celebrates inclusivity. I considered the needs and concerns of all the brides I’ve encountered during my 25 years of designing wedding gowns. Blending new treatments and signature aesthetics with each bride’s specific requirements, they can expect a wide variety of options from this collection for various body types and wedding styles.”
“When I designed the Francis Libiran Bridal 2024 Collection, I drew inspiration from architectural structures during my recent trip to India and Thailand. I merged these influences with the stories of the brides I have encountered. It’s a culmination of diverse inspirations, I must say.”
Over the years, the Francis Libiran brand has become synonymous with attributes like “high-quality” and “gold standard” in terms of intricacy, design, and comfort.
“We’ve dedicated ourselves to sourcing the finest fabrics and materials for our creations. Our workforce is also topnotch. It’s not only about the fabric but also the technique and the labor of love woven into every gown,” he says.
The mesmerizing designs of the Francis Libiran Bridal 2024 Collection are set to captivate hearts. For the designer, it signifies a fresh chapter in the brand’s journey, aligned with the accomplishment of opening their largest store yet. Brides-to-be will not only find their dream wedding gowns but also immerse themselves in the haven of style and inspiration at the flagship store.
“Through the Francis Libiran Bridal 2024 Collection, I want to convey a message of hope and love. Hope and love go hand in hand; love is the tree, and hope is its proof. Love exists, and you can craft your own love stories. We’re here to share your love stories with the world.”
Romantic at heart
Francis, a kind soul, is a romantic at heart. He loves to look back where he came from. He celebrates his past and from it draws bigger inspiration. He discovered his knack for designing clothes at eight years old, when he would doodle gowns at the back of his notebook. He would hide his sketches under his bed, for fear that his father would learn about his predilection. (His father has long accepted his preference but still joyfully teases him “to marry one of his female nurses in the US.” His retired parents are now based in the US. All his other siblings are in America, too.)
“My mom was my first influence in becoming a fashion designer because she was always well put together. My parents did not take it against me if I was an average student in school, as long as I passed. The blackboard in my classroom, even if it was filled with lectures, was a blank canvas in my imagination. I imagined it filled with the drawings of my design,” Francis recounts with laughter.
He took up Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas, passed the board exam to become a licensed architect and worked as a draftsman in an architectural firm. After a while, he gave it up to welcome the fashion designer in him by enrolling at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. He thought it would be a disservice to God not to follow his heart by using his God-given talent in fashion design.
From a small atelier in 1998, Francis has created thousands of stitches in different locations. But he is proudest of his newest and biggest store at Shangri-La Plaza. He and his business partner Arsi Baltazar plan to make the brand available to many brides (and grooms, too) all over the Philippines, with Cebu as the initial salvo outside Metro Manila because “We have a lot of clients from Cebu who go to our shop in White Plains for bespoke bridal gowns.”
The idea of opening retail bridal stores across the country became top of mind for Francis and Arsi during the height of the pandemic because they wanted the brand to be accessible.
“We are trying to develop more on the retail side. Nagkaka-edad na tayo, couture requires time and effort, though couture is still in demand. However, the pandemic helped us envision what else the market needs and so we have strategized that, in the years to come, ready-made wedding gowns will also be carried in our store,” Francis says, adding that soon his company will also go full blast on a kids’ formal wear line.
“Every day when I am at work, I always remember why I’m doing what I’m doing. I want to be able to provide work (from eight in 1998, he now has 100 people in his employ) for my staff and at the same time provide for my parents. Wala ako sa tabi ng parents ko. I always want to be able to help them,” he says.
He concludes: “Honor yourself by making sure you are using to full potential the gifts and talents God has given you. Listen to yourself rather than mind the noise outside, the noise of the world. I always give premium to my peace of mind; the rest that steals my joy doesn’t matter anymore.”
With that outlook, it is no wonder that Francis Libiran’s silver anniversary in fashion design is already his golden moment.