John Herrera‘s mastery of textures is compelling. The designer who was dubbed Britain’s Top Designer for 2017 premiered his most recent collection ‘Armada’— a harmonious conglomeration of prints, textures, and heritage that allows its patrons to wear the heart of the Philippines on their sleeve…quite literally.
Herrera, a powerhouse known for his roster of highly acclaimed nationalistic pieces, surprisingly did not plan on making a name out of himself doing pieces heavily rooted on Filipino culture. In fact, Herrera ventured into doing pieces that reflected that of other foreign influences.
Upon joining Britain’s Top Designer consecutively for a number of years (and being the only Filipino in the roster, at that!), Herrera later on saw the value Filipino heritage placed on his pieces, thus earning him the title of Britain’s Top Designer 2017 for his collection ‘Agila’—a series which used EPSON digital printing technology and fine craftsmanship to create prints and patterns that appeared three dimensional to its audience.
“There were many times in my life where I thought I wouldn’t make the shot…this time, I really wanted to win. It’s such a prestigious competition, [and] I wanted to bring pride to my fellow men. For the last 3 years, I was the only Filipino designer there. Without my fellow Filipinos cheering me on, I wouldn’t have been able to reach this point.” Herrera shares.
John Herrera’s new collection ‘Armada’ adopts the same techniques used in previous collection: bold prints, transparency, dimension, and rigidity. As described by the designer, ‘Armada’ focuses on the accidental discovery of the Philippines by the Spanish, effectively communicated by the giant map prints of the both the Philippine archipelago during those years.
The man of the hour was visited by some of Manila’s most notable personalities, including Dr. Vicki Belo-Kho and her husband Hayden Kho Jr., and Ann Ong.
Follow John Herrera on Facebook @houseofherreraphilippines. You can also follow the designer on Instagram @johnherrera.
