Puey Quiñones

Rodolfo 'Puey' Quiñones Jr. (more commonly known as Puey Quiñones) is a Filipino fashion designer and is currently based in Los Angeles, California. He is the featured designer mentor in the 2002 award winning documentary, The World's Most Fashionable Prison.^[1]

Early life and Education

Puey was born on February 28, 1980, in Bobon, Northern Samar. He is a son of a policeman and a Biology teacher. He recalled that as a young child he had dreamt of always being on center stage. After three years of studying Political Science at the University of Eastern Philippines, he left the island of Samar to go to Manila.^[2]

Career

Personal Logo of Puey Quiñones

Puey's interest in fashion started when he was in high school back in the scenic town of Bobon and was inspired by his neighbor Dennis Lustico, who was a fashion designer based in Manila. He had an idea of becoming a designer himself but thought it would be impossible for him to achieve. “I once thought that in order to become a designer, you have to come from a rich family and study fashion design abroad,” he said.

In 1999, Puey decided to move to Manila to work as an all-around assistant in Lustico’s atelier. In the early hours he would sew buttons and do the hems and once everyone leaves he would start doing sketches which he would leave at the table of Dennis with the hope that one day the designer would take notice of his designing skills. Under the mentorship of Dennis Lustico, Puey learned all the technical skills of becoming a great fashion designer. Eventually, the Lustico recommended Puey to Bergamo.

At Bergamo, Puey designed embroideries for the Barong Tagalog and new cuts for suits in Piña material, innovating the traditional Filipino suit.

But his big break came in 2002 when he became a finalist at The Philippines Young Designers Competition for Paris. It was through this competition that he would find his first client, Filipino politician, philanthropist, and socialite, TingTing Cojuangco.

That same year, Lulu Tan-Gan, another famed Filipino designer, took Puey under her wings. It was through Lulu’s leadership that Puey would learn the business aspect of running a fashion house. She taught him the value of discipline in an industry that people would often regard as whimsical.

Finally, in 2013, he opened his atelier at The Bel Air in Makati City, Philippines, and the rest, as they say, will be history. His clientele grew, and his name catapulted in the center of the Philippine fashion scene. He put up numerous successful and well-attended shows in the Philippines, like his first solo show in 2005, Swell, where he presented a sold-out 30-piece collection made of Koryo silk (a local weave in the Philippines).^[3]

Puey was one of the mentor/designer competitors for MEGA's Young Designers Competition All-Stars (2012), alongside Chris Diaz, Jeffrey Rogador, and John and Paul Herrera.

In 2013, he migrated to Los Angeles, California to start his fashion designing career anew. Puey was one of the featured designers for the historic J Summer Fashion Show, produced by Jessica Minh Ahn, held at the top floor of the One World Trade Center in New York City in June 2014.^[4]

Currently, Puey is the Creative Director for a global bridal brand, CocoMelody.^[5]

Works

Puey's design graced in different publications, television show, movies, music videos, and red carpet events.

• In June 2014, he presented a 15-piece collection for J Summer Fashion Show in New York City's One World Trade Center, entitled Fly, which reflects the spirit and design of the venue — ethereal, hopeful, powerful and stunning. Not one to miss out on the irony of the experience, Puey clearly identified with the symbolism of the World Trade Center: to rise after a fall, to fly and soar with a vision, renewed confidence, and newfound strength.^[6]
• Puey is a guest designer for America's Next Top Model Cycle 21. He designed clothes using fabrics native to the Philippines for a runway challenge where the contestants have to walk on stilts.^[7]
• Designed one of Katy Perry's costume for her Dark Horse (Katy Perry song) music video.^[8]
• In October 2017, after eight (8) years, he did a solo fashion show for MEGA Fashion Week SS18 held in Manila, Philippines. The collections were revealed in two different acts: first is an all-white bridal ensemble with a romantic silhouette, and the second is Puey's signature aesthetic of bold, vibrant colors, loud patterns (some beaded so intricately), mischievous accents, and confounding textures.^[9]
• He dressed up HFPA member Janet Nepales and Filipino-American television host and journalist Janelle So-Perkins at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.^[10]

His creations were worn by celebrities like Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams (singer), Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, True Blood actress Rutina Wesley, fashion model and actress Ireland Baldwin, Fuller House actress Lori Loughlin, American rapper MC Lyte, and many others.

Puey's client includes:

• Kris Aquino, television host and actress
• Imee Marcos, Ilocos Norte Governor
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 14th President of the Philippines

References