"She will forever be my muse," shares Lance Rubio, a Fashion Design and Merchandising student. "Hindi naranasan ng aking nanay na magsuot ng wedding gown sa kanyang kasal. Ang kwento pa nya, Coke na raw ang pinaka handa nila nung araw na yon," he shared in a tweet. As a part of his final plate, a requirement at his university, Lance chose to craft a garment that was a tribute to the very special woman in his life, Nanay Agnes.
Hindi naranasan ng aking nanay na magsuot ng wedding gown sa kanyang kasal. Ang kwento pa nya, coke na raw ang pinaka handa nila nung araw na yon.
— lance (@LanceErnestR) April 21, 2023
For my final plate in FDMTXT3, I made a wedding gown for her. I fulfilled a long overdue dream of hers. She will forever be my muse pic.twitter.com/t1Nmr9LCsv
This heartwarming gesture of a son to his mother resonated with many netizens on Twitter. His now-viral tweet gained over 13.1K likes and 836 retweets. Netizens also can’t help but get mesmerized by how beautifully crafted the gown is. One user said, “The simplicity screams elegance…definitely a work of art.”
In an exclusive interview with Lance, the student shared the emotional journey of creating the dress and the joy he felt in seeing his mother wear it. He spoke about the inspiration behind the design and the challenges he faced in bringing his vision to life. The interview offers a glimpse into the love and devotion that went into the creation of the dress and the special bond between mother and son.
What inspired you to create a wedding dress for your mom?
The collection for the final plate was actually inspired by women in the small barrio where I grew up. As an aspiring haute couture fashion designer, i want to make the last look to be a wedding dress just like in a tradition haute couture show. The story of my mom not experiencing to wear a wedding gown is the perfect inspiration in creating this last look.
How did you go about designing the dress? Did your mom have any input or requests?
As a student, I have the freedom to create what kind of dress I want to design, being a fashion design student is the perfect time for me to explore my style and techniques. I am so much amazed by the beauty of vintage couture, the way they are contructed. It’s pure beauty! This is actually a surprise design for her, I am so close with my mom especially after the pandemic. Because of this, I already know what suits her.
What were some of the challenges you faced while making the dress?
The main challenge I faced in making this dress would be time management. We have a very fast paced academic calendar in school(tri sem) But I am getting used to make clothes until 3 AM or 4AM. I want to continuously sew garments because I don’t want my momentum or drive to be cut.
Can you describe the moment your mom saw herself in the dress for the first time?
When we had our first fitting, she was so happy! Her smile is priceless. She just said she needs to have her hair cut in preparation for the shoot.
Did you learn anything new about yourself or your mom during the process of making the dress?
I learned that I have the capabilities to create such a piece that can be considered as couture. That my skills are a bit advanced(as my prof said) but I have so much things to learn. I also learned that my mom looks very pretty wearing a wedding gown.
Do you have any plans to pursue a career in fashion design, or was this a one-time project for your mom?
Fashion is my life. I really want to be a fashion designer, an haute couture fashion designer if given the chance! I am building my brand right now and I want it to continue and last long. Fashion is also my way of giving back to the community because living in a barrio here in Isabela, I saw people live in poverty due to lack of work. I want to provide jobs to the people here in my community (Brgy. Cebu).
What advice would you give to other aspiring designers who want to create something meaningful for their loved ones?
I learned that clothes are much more beautiful when it is very personal and if it tells a story. Make clothes that are close to your heart. Do not hesitate to make conversations with them because in that way you will be able to feel and see what design perfectly suits them.
What other types of clothing or designs are you interested in creating in the future?
As I mention, I love couture. I am looking forward to feel and see archival pieces from big haute couture pieces and also filipino fashion designers like Salvacion Lim Higgins. I want to learn more about the techniques they applied in creating it. But I want to share with you one of my biggest goal, that is to join ternocon. I love Philippine fashion especially the textiles and the filipiniana silhouette. I wan to combine the haute couture techniques in making filipinianas with Philippine textiles.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience making the dress or your thoughts on fashion design in general?
I just want us to have more platforms to young fashion designers, especially those who are underprivileged, those who live in small provinces. I hope we have more programs in supporting them. We have so many talented artists and designers that just need support.
Congratulations Lance, the combination of your stunning gown craftsmanship and heartwarming backstory is truly exceptional!
