The Filipino fashion designers in Dubai dressing Hollywood stars and Arab royalty – and China could be next
Furne One, Ezra Santos and Michael Cinco might be notoriously media-shy but their stunning creations have been seen on stars from Beyoncé to Sofia Vergara. Now China is emerging as a new market for their talents
Since they made Dubai their home nearly 20 years ago, three Filipino designers have been quietly building their fashion empires and dressing some of the world’s most famous women.
Despite their global success, Furne One, Ezra Santos and Michael Cinco are notoriously media shy and painfully discreet about their little black book of clients.
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“I have lots of celebrity dresses that I’m currently working on but I’m not at liberty to talk about them,” says One, founder of the label Amato Couture. “All I can say is that some pieces are for an American A-lister who will make a big comeback in the new year.”
One’s back catalogue of VIP customers includes Beyoncé, Katy Perry and JinJoo Lee, to name but a few. Aside from stars of stage and screen, his private clients consist of high-net-worth ladies from the Middle East, Europe and, increasingly, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
“Everyone is different but clients in the Gulf and Russia are more likely to want excesses, whereas Asians want elements of the dresses removed, more tailored or simplified,” he says.
