All princesses and princess-at-heart must have three things: dainty not-necessarily-glass slippers, a tiara, a luxurious ball gown.
Never mind the prince. Every girl must have dreamt at least once in their life of being the belle of the ball, of cascading down a spiral staircase, of waiting for the collective *gasp* from the audience below.
That scene would not be complete without a luxuriant ball gown, with shoulders bared just right *there*, with floral or crystal details on a full, heavy skirt, tiny waist encased in a tight corset, and a tiara sitting daintily on head.
Everybody dreamt of that dress, with a style evoking the best of Elizabethan and Victorian eras, of dresses worn by duchesses and Spanish senoritas in ballrooms large enough to accommodate the entire city (with room to spare).
Of course that kind of dress spares no expense (and LOTS of fabric). It’s the stuff of cotillions and grand balls, and that is exactly the kind of feel that an Apol Embang ensemble connotes. There’s something about an Apol Embang creation that brings out the inner princess — whether it’s the intricate detailing in the bodice, or the breathtaking opulence of the full skirt.
Apol is a (relatively) new face in Bacolod – he was practicing his craft here for only 10 years. He is, however, already a big name in the industry even before he moved to the city.
His specialty is wedding gowns and luxury of evening wear (with special emphasis on luxury), although he designs for both sexes.
Apol’s talent is also recognized overseas, as proven by the fact that his expansive clientele includes Japanese pageant girls.
“I have been providing evening gowns for Japanese ladies who are participating in Miss Inter-Continental Japan, Miss International Japan and other pageants based in Japan,” he tells DNX.
It is no surprise then that Apol will be among those featured during the Born Brave fashion show on October 12 at the SMX Convention Bacolod. The event, directed by Rodney Ascalon, is in collaboration with the office of Bacolod representative Cong. Greg Gasataya, the avowed champion for mental health. Proceeds of the benefit show will go to Youth for Mental Health – Bacolod Chapter, and Happy Hearts Foundation.
Apol has a special reason for saying “yes”.
“I joined Born Brave as a designer because when I was a kid I am a victim of bullying and I really wanted to show people why I am born brave,” he declares.
He says he is “born brave as a designer, born brave as an artist”.
“I am showing them that my physical disability is not my hindrance to my passion and my passion is fashion designing that’s why I’m here,” he adds.
Apol believes that everybody should have an awareness on mental health because mental health issues could happen to anyone.
“Everybody should be educated,” he avers as he affirms in belief in the advocacy.
