On a memorable evening last June 22, at the exquisite Okada Manila Grand ballroom, the much-anticipated solo fashion show of Leo Almodal drew together entertainment luminaries, beauty pageant titleholders, and fashion models for an extraordinary showcase of couture excellence. The event was a spectacular celebration of style and creativity, captivating all in attendance with its mesmerizing and breathtaking displays.
The Cebuano-Masbateño fashion designer started designing even when he was still in his college years.
“I was doing it on a part-time basis. I accept designing and sewing work while studying,” Almodal shared how he started as a designer. “My late father was a tailor. My mother was a dressmaker. They both discouraged me to follow in their footsteps.”
His passion began when he was still six years of age when he first copied the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Disney princesses featured on a milk brand’s label.
Despite being an education degree holder, he wasn’t fortunate enough to land any teaching post, but the universe conspired with his dream. He landed a job at a bridal couture shop at SM-Cebu. From there, he only stayed there for three months and got hired by Arabs and flew to Bahrain as a fashion designer.
Without any formal training in fashion design–it was his mere talents and perhaps the exposure he had with his parents that molded him to become who he is today.
Fast forward: after 23 years of doing couture formal and bridal gowns, he mustered all his brilliance and staged his first solo fashion show with a theme that welcomes the public to his world of imagination. Around 60 or more creations were showcased, and modeled by the likes of actresses Max Collins, Sanya Lopez, Ara Mina, Arci Muñoz; beauty queens Jamie Herrell (Miss Earth 2014), Angelia Ong (Miss Earth 2015), Gazini Ganados (Miss Universe-Philippines 2019), Maureen Montagne (Miss Globe 2021), Yllana Marie Aduana (Miss Earth-Air 2023), Pauline Amelinckx (Miss Supranational 2023 first runner-up), and more.
The fashion show was divided into three collections–the Sun, Forest, and Snow-and-Blood collections.
The two-hour show reflects Almodal’s brand of masterpieces.
When one sees his body of work–anything that sparkles ostentatiously, the wearer will feel the sophistication and as if one is in a gown decked with crystals and other gems–it’s like wearing pieces of jewelry.
That’s what Almodal is known for. He never shot changes his clients with a blinding array of shining, shimmering pieces with no intended subtleties.
Leo Almodal Fashion Show was presented by Aura Events Management.
