Carlene Zervoulakos Believes Every Day Is Worth Dressing For

The designer behind Atelier Carlene has spent the last few years building a label as global in reach as it is Filipino at heart.

Carlene Zervoulakos created her brand because she kept imagining outfits that simply didn’t exist anywhere. So, she made them herself. What grew out of that impulse is Atelier Carlene, a bespoke and ready-to-wear couture label now operating between Manila and London, with a client list that includes some of the Philippines’ most recognizable faces and a following that’s steadily building abroad.

The London College of Fashion graduate has managed to set up something that feels genuinely hers. At Atelier Carlene, the namesake designer refuses the idea that local and international are in any kind of tension. Everything, she is quick to point out, is still made in the Philippines. What comes through when you talk to Carlene is less the ambition, though it’s certainly there, and more the pleasure she takes in the act of dressing itself. She grew up watching her mother get ready, spent her teenage years planning outfits with friends, and still believes that a great dress deserves to be worn on an ordinary Tuesday. 

We spoke with Carlene about where her ideas begin, what it means to dress with purpose, and why she has never been interested in designing for someone who wants to blend in.

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What first drew you to fashion?

Carlene: I’ve always known I wanted to be a designer. My mom loved fashion, so I grew up around someone who genuinely enjoyed getting dressed. There was always an excitement around it that I found contagious. Later on, that became getting ready with my girls. Choosing outfits, talking about what we were going to wear, spending far too much time getting ready for an event that would only last a few hours. I loved all of it. Sometimes, getting ready was honestly more fun than the event itself.

What I loved wasn’t just the clothes. It was everything around it. Packing for a trip, dressing for a specific occasion, discovering a new city and noticing how people express themselves through what they wear. Looking back, I think fashion has always been the way I’ve made sense of the world. I’ve always connected memories to what people wore, where we were, and how a moment felt. Becoming a designer felt like a natural extension of that.

How has your sense of style and design philosophy evolved since you first started out?

Carlene: I’ve learned to trust my instincts a lot more. I spend less time questioning ideas and more time following the ones that genuinely excite me. My design journal is honestly a bit of a mess. It’s full of color combinations, random motifs, patterns, things I’ve seen while traveling, and ideas I don’t want to forget. Sometimes it’s as simple as seeing two colors together and thinking, “I need to do something with that.”

From there, it becomes a process of figuring out the best way to bring that idea to life. I’ve always been drawn to things that feel playful. I love color. I love unexpected combinations. I love motifs that make people smile. A lot of my ideas start with color, and most of the time, I’m just following my curiosity to see where it takes me.

I’ve never been interested in saving the best outfit for later. I love the idea of wearing something special on an ordinary day. I’ll happily wear a great outfit just to grab coffee or meet a friend for lunch. That philosophy naturally finds its way into my work. I want beautiful clothes to be part of everyday life. Fashion should feel lived in, enjoyed, and worn as often as possible.

What does building a Filipino brand with an international presence mean to you?

Carlene: It’s something I’m incredibly proud of. One of the things I’m most proud of is that everything is made here in the Philippines. The level of talent within our local fashion community is extraordinary, and I’m constantly inspired by what my team is capable of creating. What I love most about what I do is bringing ideas to life.There’s something incredibly rewarding about starting with a concept and seeing it evolve through fabric, silhouette, and craftsmanship into something someone can wear and make memories in. The amount of skill, patience, and care that goes into every piece is incredible.

What’s been especially exciting is realizing that a piece designed and made in Manila can resonate with someone halfway across the world. Spending time in London has made me appreciate how connected the fashion world really is. Despite our different backgrounds and perspectives, fashion is something that brings people together.

I love that Atelier Carlene gets to be part of that conversation while remaining deeply rooted in the Philippines. For me, having an international presence isn’t about leaving the Philippines behind. It’s about bringing Filipino craftsmanship into more conversations and more wardrobes around the world.

Who or what has influenced your work in ways that might surprise people?

Carlene: Honestly, experiences. Of course, I love fashion, but some of my biggest inspirations have nothing to do with fashion itself. Inspiration usually comes from experiences. I think I’m constantly absorbing things without realizing it. A mood, a pattern, a place I’ve been, a memory. They stay with me and eventually shape the feeling of a collection.

I’m endlessly curious, and I think that’s what fuels a lot of my creativity. A lot of my ideas begin with color or pattern. Sometimes I’ll come across a combination that feels exciting and won’t be able to stop thinking about it.

The same goes for motifs. They often begin as little observations or memories that slowly find their way into a collection. I’ve always admired people who dress with intention, even when there’s no reason to. Someone dressed to the nines just to grab a coffee will always catch my attention. I just love that approach to life, and I think that sense of curiosity and joy is present in everything I design.

What do you want women to feel when they wear something you’ve made?

Carlene: I’ve always been drawn to women who trust their instincts. The women who inspire me most are usually the ones having the most fun with fashion. They’re not overthinking it. They’re not dressing for trends. They wear things because they genuinely love them. I love women with a strong point of view. The ones who can pull off something unexpected simply because they wear it with conviction.

I’ve never been interested in designing for someone who wants to blend in. I design for the woman who gets excited about getting dressed. The one who wears the unexpected color, says yes to the playful detail, and isn’t saving the best outfit for later. The one who dresses up for dinner, for a trip, for coffee, or sometimes for absolutely no reason at all. That’s the woman I design for.

Photos courtesy of Carlene Zervoulakos

Photography by Colin Dancel