Erick Valena gets ready for June bride designs

It must have been tiring and tedious for fashion designer Erick Valena to be shuttling from Lopez town in Quezon Province to Manila and back to attend to his dress shop in the countryside and stay half of the week in Muntinlupa and Makati where he maintains ateliers in both cities (although he just shares workshop with the iconic haute couture veteran Albert Figueras in Makati). 

But no.

Erick has a way to balance things in his time and space.

Three days before Valena celebrated the first-year anniversary of Erick Valena Fashion House in Lopez, he participated in the annual Bridal Expo Metro South in Festival Mall in Alabang where he presented his exquisite wedding creations.

Valena was one of the stars of the show where he regaled his audience with his two elegant bridal gowns, one worn by model Ashley Subejano Montenegro and the other, donned by a dummy at one corner of the display window.

“I would like to prove that even if I go home to as far as Lopez, Quezon which takes seven to eight-hour travel, I can be productive and creative especially now that the wedding month is around the corner. I have a lot of clients for weddings in Lopez and Manila so it’s not a question of distance,” opined Erick.

Valena was a standout in the event not to mention the attraction his statuesque model has rendered.

After the art exhibit, Erick went back to Lopez to prepare for the first-year occasion of his shop, a well-attended community event.

“June bride is a nice concept anytime of the day. It is one season when fashion designers are challenged to do extra work for the enjoyment of the clients,” Valena quipped. (Boy Villasanta)