sweat in black and white

Had a great time last Saturday shooting for Don's autumn / winter 2009 - 2010 collection and you can just imagine how hot it was, in the middle of the Cambodian summer, to wear jackets and layered clothes. Well, at least that's how Serge and Elodie, our models felt, but it was definitely a blast doing the shoot... even with sweat rolling down their cheeks and all...



























Our models were Elodie from Paris and Serge from Russia who were really cool and game even if the airconditioner in the studio was on the brink of a revolution.



This is just a preview of what Don has n store for the Philippine Fashion Week in May. This collection will be available shortly after at POETRY by the Alley West.

wanderlust

Another highly creative designer has recently made a big move from the bright lights of Paris, London and New York and made the dusty old town of Siem Reap her new home. Now our lives will never be the same again...


Her name is Elizabeth Kiester - former creative director of LeSportSac and Abercrombie & Fitch where she has elevated the brands through her youthful designs and innovative collaborations with artists and designers such as Stella McCartney and Toki Doki's Simone Legno. She has also been a stylist for brands like BCBG Max Azria, Cynthia Rowley, GAP, Banana Republic, and was also fashion director for glossies like YM, Marie Claire, Seventeen, Mademoiselle and JANE.

With an impressive portfolio like that, moving to a third world country to spread fashion would probably the last thing on anyone's sane mind.


But she did, and in a span of weeks, she has transformed Siem Reap into an exciting new destination for alternative fashion through her bright new store by the alley at the old market area- wanderlust. A fitting name for a fashion nomad.


I did a photo shoot for her for an article for my friend Don and for use in an international inflight magazine.


Modeled by Sheree, her clothes and accessories are bold, fun and awash with color. She also has a sombre and edgy line of avant garde pieces.


Being interviewed by Don, Elizabeth told us that she originally went to Cambodia for a holiday and to do volunteer work for an NGO, but ended up falling in love with the place. So she packed up all her stuff in New York and changed our lives for the better.


Cool, vibrant and always fun, her designs and her shop are a big source of inspiration for us!


Her shop also has a cool lounge on the far end littered with fluffy graphic pillows.


Her bedroom on the second floor is a play of black and white and a burst of luscious red here and there. A true homage to New York loft living.




Winding down after the shoot... we had fun!

Elizabeth and Don are cooking up a fashion show soon by the alley... so this is just the start of something big!

fashion calls...

A new photographer from the Philippines - Vincent, has recently joined our SPOOLWORKS team straight from Olongapo to help me out with my photography projects for the high season. So we were out to test his skills and also to shoot the latest collection of designer friend Don Protasio who recently showed at the Philippine Fashion Week. Don was lucky enough to find a great model - Holly Grabareck who hails from Singapore. She is part Chinese, American and Polish but was born and bred in the island state. Models don't get more exotic than her!

We have been looking for a place to house Don's collections apart from our gallery, but after some frustrating attempts, we have decided to renovate the second floor of our house as both a studio for me and Don where we could welcome clients but by appointment only.

This shoot is actually for a brochure we are doing for him...

Don's black and white pieces layered on a symphony of jersey, cotton and knits...

These are part of Don's classic line but as of the moment, we are experimenting on printing our own designs on his fabrics for the next season...

Don's hottest pieces are actually the shoes. These gladiator shoes he designed are selling like crazy online and at the One Gallery. These are made here in Cambodia.

Don is cooking up a fashion show next month here in Siem Reap together with Madagascaran designer Eric Raisina who supplies fabrics for Christian Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent in Paris...

Don sells his collections exclusively at the One Gallery in Siem Reap, Cambodia and at Backstage at Serendra in Manila, Philippines.

photos by Loven Ramos & Vincent Rufo

make up by Faith Famoso Ramos

model: Holly Grabareck
The team including Brewster Bonifacio and Kaoru Sato

shot on location at Friends Center, Siem Reap Cambodia