An Ode to Crispin and Basilio

Thanks to Filipino designer Donny Barrios, the characters of Crispin and Basilio — the two brothers who figured prominently in Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere — come to life again. This time, in Barrios’ fashion designs.

Taunted as the next designer to watch out for in Los Angeles, Barrios shares with this writer through e-mail his thoughts about New York creativity, the important factor in designing and the story behind the name of his line.

From Ateneo to New York

Born and raised in Manila, Barrios is the middle child of three to entrepreneur parents. He went to Ateneo de Manila University before heading to the US for college.

What inspired him to get into fashion designing?

“I wouldn’t say there was one defining moment of inspiration. I always felt the strength in making editorial choices.  Fashion was inevitably the forum I found to do that in,” Barrios says.

In the US, he enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. When asked why New York, Barrios says, “I felt it was important to be in New York. I felt that my creativity could only be sparked and honed through experience. I felt this strong need to start learning my life in a fantastic and intimidating backdrop.”

Crispin and Basilio

Upon finishing his course, Barrios started his career by working for J. Crew as a merchandiser and involving himself in men’s wear before eventually focusing in women’s wear.

Ask how he would compare the process, Barrios says: “Men’s wear is about the small details, or the deliberate lack of. The creativity is more potent because of the immediate and inescapable boundaries it presents — limitation is the beginning. On the other hand, women’s wear had a more studious, if not, editorial approach.  The possibilities are so much more.  Added to the fact that I (as a male designer) have to begin the practical thought process in someone else’s shoes — the woman customer.”

After working for a Los Angeles label, Barrios established Crispin and Basilio in 2006. On naming his brand, Barrios says, “It really was just a quest to find a name that had a sense of contradiction and tradition.  To some, it sounds like a couple of old European names — very ‘fashion-y.’ But to others, including most of us Filipinos, it’s as familiar as ‘Jack and Jill.’ Add to these the historical, colloquial and humorous references — it felt and sounded just right.”

Ask to describe the woman wearing his line, Barrios has this to say: “She is defined by her choices. She’s modern and creative in many different aspects. Her interests spark her creativity. In the end she is the product of who she is and not what she strives to be... natural, attractive, kind and nonchalant.”

LA’s next fashion designer

Although relatively new, Crispin and Basilio has gathered recognition from various magazines, among them Elle and Women’s Wear Daily. On being praised as the next fashion designer to watch out for, Barrios says: “It will always be a sense of achievement and a testament to the hard work that everyone involved has put in. It helps us as a company to get to levels of being able to continue what we are all passionate about.  We’ve been very fortunate.”

 “Being in ready-to-wear, I believe, enforces a designer to really be studious about one’s decisions. At the end of the day I have to put product out there that needs to be sold. I suppose the most vital factor is finding the perfect balance between instinctive hunches and educated decisions,” he adds.

When asked if he mixes anything Filipino in his creations, Barrios has this to say: “I think the wonderful mix of contradictions is what truly makes one Filipino. And this sensibility, I absolutely incorporate in everything I do.”

Currently, Crispin and Basilio is carried in various stores in the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Harvey Nichols stores in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. Ask if he has plans to bring his line to the Philippines, Barrios says, “In the future, I absolutely hope so.”

Finally, in making it to the US, Barrios has this advice to Filipino designers; “Always ask yourself ‘Can I...?’ instead of ‘How can I’?”

From being a merchandiser to a head designer to having a line of his own, Donny Barrios has proven that Filipino fashion is definitely up among the famous lines in Los Angeles. Even Rizal would have been proud.

(As of this writing, Donny Barrios is among three designers competing for the LU Style award in Elle magazine. Let us all support him.)

(Special thanks to Mr. Tu Tran of Markedshowroom for making the interview possible. For more information, visit crispinandbasilio.com)