Albert Andrada Opulence may not be a keyword one would expect in a ready to wear line, but this is what premier designer Albert Andrada offers to the elegant and accomplished woman who is looking for clothes-on-the-go. The luxurious fabrics, elaborate embellishments, unique silhouette, and the delicate details associated with the couture line of Albert Andrada are making way into his ready-to-wear pieces that transcend day to evening, from informal to formal occasions. The stamp of luxury presented by Albert Andrada in all his creations stems from his years of experience as an international designer that dates back to the late 1980’s. Prior to coming to Manila to establish his own line, Albert Andrada served as chief Creative Director in one of the prestigious fashion houses in the United Arab Emirates. He also served as a royal designer for one of the ruling families in the region. His style has been greatly influenced by his clients who calmor for no less than affluence and originality in what they wear. “My experience there trained me to be meticulous in details,” he quips. The richness of the culture in the region has also inspired him to create exquisite pieces for his privileged clients. Traveling for leisure may be respite for the busy highly productive professional, but for Albert Andrada he fines a way to nurture his aesthetics during his personal trips abroad. “Every time I travel I make sure I research on the different cultures of the different countries I visit. Consequently, I always come up with an inspiration that is drawn from a country’s tradition down to it’s history. “He loves to watch the locals and keenly notes down how they naturally behave. All these observations, he says make a fascinating springboard for fresh ideas. Through the years, the Albert Andrada brand has created a steady following among illustrious women in the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines. Complementing his commercial success is as string of accolades he reaps. Among them are Asia’s Most Connected Designer given at the 2014 Mercedes Benz Stylo Asian Fashion Week held in Malaysia and Designer of the Year at the 2002 Swarovski’s Bridal Designer’s Competition Award in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Following his continued success and international recognition, Albert Andrada has been active in showcasing his collection in New York Fashion Week, L.A. Fashion Week and Singapore Fashion Week to name a few. Hollywood is also starting to take notice of his designs. He takes credit for the intricately designed white frock worn by hotel heiress Paris Hilton during the 2014 Grammy Awards. The dress was such showstopper that is landed Ms. Hilton on the best dressed list of major publication that covered the event. His creations can be found at The House of Stars Boutique at Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, California. More recently, his designs took center stage at the 2015 Miss Universe pageant held in Las Vegas, USA. Andrada created the national costume and evening gown of eventual winner, Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. Pageant observers and fans adored his creations, which are arguably the best a Filipina has ever worn in the competition in recent years. For the national costume, his design was inspired by the Manila carnival queens of the early 1900’s. The terno is made of cocoon fabric and jusi, and heavily embellished with pearls, capiz shells, and crystals. A fan and a headress complete the presentation. The royal blue gown, on the other hand, has a mermaid silhouette that perfectly flatters the figure of Miss Philippines. At first glance, the gown evokes a regal simplicity, but the back is complemented by ornate details of sequins and crystals in geometric fashion. It was not surprising that Miss Philippines topped the evening gown competition. Andrada drew inspiration for his designs of the national costume and evening gown from the country’s moniker as Pearl of the Orient. Since the end of Miss Universe 2015, Andrada has continued to let his presence know in the Fashion Community both in the Philipiines and abroad. In 2017, he was chosen to be the featured designer responsible in creating the Barong Tagalogs of the male world leaders and their respective spoused for the ASEAN summit held in the Philippines. Prime Minister Justin Truedeaux even stated that his designs were beautiful and far more comfortable than what he has worn in the past. The Prime Minister even requested that he and Andrada have a selfie together right before the event that garnered huge attention in the social media community. There is no doubt that Albert Andrada is starting to become a renowned brand in the highly competitive and discriminating world of fashion worldwide. His foray into the ready-to-wear business may come as a surprise, but what he offers is anything but an extension of what he is already known for- sophistication, glamour, and luxury.