Filipino fashion designer Oliver Tolentino has been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences as a finalist in the Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.
Oliver is one of nine designers chosen from throughout the U.S., based on design sketches submitted to the Academy, which is scheduled to award the annual Oscars during ceremonies in Los Angeles on March 7. Each of the participants in the Oscars Designer Challenge has created one gown for a possible appearance on the 2010 Oscar telecast of the event. The winner of the challenge will receive two tickets to attend the event and witness his or her gown being worn on stage by one of the "trophy girls" who bring the Oscar statuettes to the presenters.
All nine of the designers already got some valuable exposure when they present their one-of-a-kind gowns to hundreds of members of the international press corp during a fashion show held on February 23 at the Academy's Beverly Hills headquarters. The gowns and fashion show video have also been posted at www.oscar.com, the Academy's official website.
The public then took over, casting votes via the Internet between February 23 and March 1, with balloting restricted to one per registered e-mail address per day. The winning gown will be announced immediately before the telecast of the 82nd Academy Awards.
Oliver created an elegant off-white, environmentally friendly mermaid gown out pi-a and abaca fabrics from the Philippines. The bodice is asymmetrical, with layered strips of pi-a, which is made from pineapple fibers. The gown is accented with Philippine freshwater pearls all over the neckline. Pearls also line the plunging back and extend in an asymmetrical swirl around the waist. The long pi-a skirt features rosette hand cut-outs made from fibers from the abaca plant, which is a member of the banana family and is common in the Philippines. The cut-outs are broken up by two concentric strips of accordion-like pi-a fabric.
Oliver said he hopes to give a boost to business in his home country with his choice of fabrics.
"I am really trying to promote my home country's native fabrics wherever I go," he said. "It promotes an entire industry that employs so many talented, skilled workers. I feel it's my duty, but fortunately it's also my pleasure and honor to work with pi-a. I love it and I love seeing the reaction of Westerners when I tell them that pi-a is pineapple fiber. They are in awe when they hear that and see what elegant gowns can be made from it. It makes me so proud."
Oliver has come a long way for his star turn in Hollywood. He is a native of the small town of Orani in the province of Bataan, Philippines, and started his career in Manila. He recently became the first ever Philippines-based fashion designer to expand into the United States when he opened a Los Angeles boutique in July 2009.
Prior to opening his Melrose Avenue shop, Oliver already had secured a reputation in his native country by designing gowns for socialites, celebrities, and government officials at the highest levels. Oliver has created dramatic gowns for some of the Philippines' biggest concert stars, including the four "divas" — Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Pops Fernandez. He has also dressed Filipina songbird Lani Misalucha for the stage in her running show in Las Vegas.
Oliver has earned distinctions for his environmentally friendly wear, too. He was the only designer to represent the Philippines at the United Nations' Palais des Nations for EcoChic Geneva. The event celebrated sustainable fashion and accessories to mark the U.N.'s International Year of Biodiversity. More than 40 designers from around the globe present eco-friendly looks, including Diane von Furstenberg of Belgium, Thakoon of Thailand, and John Rocha of Ireland. Oliver created a dramatic pi-a gown based influenced by Filipino folklore, and his entry earned the distinction of being the show's grand finale.
Oliver said that his selection for the Oscars Designer Challenge amount to quite a welcome in Los Angeles.
"I know people always say this — especially at the Oscars — but just to be selected as one of the nine designers after only opening my boutique eight months ago, I already feel like I've won so much," he said. "Of course, I'd be so honored to win, but more because a Filipino would be winning. But all of that will be up to the public vote."
AJPress photo by Andy Tecson.
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