lizares.

As this was Brian Maristela’s premiere collection for Lizares, the pressure must have been daunting to say the least. And the sole fact that he presented menswear instead of womenswear for his introduction to the fashion world was a risk unto itself. Lately it seems that menswear has gone a little…mundane to say the least. During New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the collections were toned down in menswear. So, Lizares’ Spring 2010 collection seemed promising. And for his debut collection, Brian Maristela single-handedly changed the way the industry looked at menswear. Utilizing exotic skins with brightly coloured linings, while fusing a Savile Row know-how with traditional Filipino garbs, this collection epitomizes the term, “Asian fusion”. It seemed that Brian Maristela was not afraid to showcase the male sex factor for this collection. His montage (where apparently there was a lover’s tiff between 2 men and a woman) further highlighted his frame of mind. Models paraded down the runway with slim-fitted white cotton shorts (paired with black patent lace-ups) and white speedo-esque bathing suits. But while the latter seems cliché, Brian playfully incorporated an encrusted heart on it. Further proving that the Lizares man is bold, independent and extremely stylish. But what caught the attention of the entire crowd were the tailored suits. Although an obvious staple in menswear, what separated his suits from the rest was that he fused colourful linings in each suit jacket while having ostrich lining the lapel. And not to mention the sartorial factor that was designed in each one. Perhaps it was the audacity of presenting such a refreshing menswear collection which oozed confidence and sexiness in the clothing that had us in awe. Or perhaps it was the ingenuity of using Jusi (fabric made from banana stalk and only available to a handful of countries in the Pacific Rim) in his pieces and his beautifully constructed embroidered shirts. All we are sure of after experiencing such a collection: The Lizares Man gets noticed.