michael cinco on love and other demons

Michael Cinco: Chases Romance in Couture

It seems strange talking about love months after St. Valentine's day in February. But romance knows no season, especially when you are with Michael Cinco.

The international fashion designer -- known for his figure-hugging gowns that looked as if they were molded into the bodies of her models (think the recent incarnation of Superman and his newly-minted costume) and embellished with expensive Swarovski crystals, pearls and sequins that were stitched to utter perfection -- is a hopeless romantic.

Love fuels his creativity, keeps his adrenaline rushing despite the tiresome pressures of coming up with dreamy, luxurious, fairy tale-like gowns and dresses fit for modern day queens and princesses.

While he has been known to “eat, sleep, breathe and dream couture”, Michael is also a tireless lover, chasing love no matter how painful it can be. Love hurts, cuts deeply like Swarovski crystals if you are not careful, but trust the designer who has dressed mammoth celebrities like Sofia Vergara and Jennifer Lopez to turn the pain into an inspiration.

“I am inept in loving the right person. I tend to look for love even in all the wrong places,” says Michael during a recent tete-a-tete days after his much-praised, standing-room-only The Impalpable Dream of Russia show at the SMX Convention of the Mall of Asia last May, ushering the weeklong Philippine Fashion Week.

“But I get by,” he says without a trace of irony. Then channeling British soul artist Adele, he adds: “Meanwhile, to my lost loves, good riddance. I thrive as I wallow in pain and I get famous. That’s my sweet revenge.”

And what a revenge it is.

Michael is setting his sights beyond Dubai, the wealthy United Arab Emirates city that propelled him to international stardom since he moved there 15 years ago, armed only with a burning desire to create the most breathtaking pieces of art that can be worn only by a privileged few.

After wowing the jetsetters of the Middle East, Michael wants to dress up Europe next. Already, his creations are available in upscale boutiques in Moscow, where Russian czarinas don’t mind at all the mind-blowing prices of his gowns.

“I have couture pieces in some high-end boutiques in Moscow and the demand is phenomenal,” he says matter-of-factly, not a hint of gloating in his tone. “I would love to be in Paris soon.”

Paris, is of course, home of couture. It is every designer’s dream to conquer the French capital. It seems that the most romantic city in the world is where the romantic designer, who further honed his skills at the chic Central Saint Martins in London, is destined.

But Michael, who is celebrating his 20^th year as a designer this year, is not stopping there. There is no rest, indeed, for the dreamer.

“The world is my stage,” says Michael, who has a flair for the theatrical as evidenced by his most recent Manila show where the well-conceptualized lights and sound added drama to his creations that made the models looked like they were floating as they sashayed on the stage. “The brand has a lot of things up its sleeves. They're worth watching out for.”

But away from the glittering world of international couture, Michael remains the simple, down-to-earth, albeit inherently shy provinciano who was born and raised in Catbalogan, a small town in the island of Samar where most people earn a living by fishing, farming, manning small businesses, teaching, and soldiering.

While Catbalogan has its share of famous celebrities, it’s really hard to imagine that the sleepy town that still doesn’t have a shopping mall until now bore witness to the birth of one of the hottest designers in the global stage at the moment, who had wowed not just the supermodel Tyra Banks but countless fashionistas all over the world during his stint at the hit television show America’s Next Top Model, not just once, but twice in fact.

Growing up, Michael was fond of watching glitzy classic Hollywood movies on tape such as those starring Audrey Hepburn, perennially dressed in glamorous ball gowns as she played a royalty or a princess wannabe in Roman Holiday and My Fair Lady. These movies inspired him to dream what seemed to be impossible at that time: to create dresses fit for a princess.

“My Impalpable Dream was my motivation for success. From my humble beginnings in Samar and armed with raw, innate talent and the resolve to succeed, I set out to the big city and chase that dream,” says Michael turning nostalgic.

After dressing up pop superstars Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, Michael still dreams of seeing his gowns worn by Cate Blanchett, his favorite Hollywood actress, and Angelina Jolie.

“I would love to dress up women of substance, women who have transcended their celebrity and are attune with the times,” says Michael.

Given his enormous talent, steely determination and love of life, seeing Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett in a Michael Cinco couture, perhaps at the Oscar’s red carpet next year, is not farfetched. Love, after all, conquers all.