Cover Renz Reyes recounts the trajectory of his career and the origins of his passion (Photo: Courtesy of Renz Reyes; stylised with Canva)
Renz Reyes recounts the trajectory of his career and the origins of his passion (Photo: Courtesy of Renz Reyes; stylised with Canva)
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Fashion designer Renz Reyes on the trajectory of his career
With the unveiling of Codex of Design, a three-month retail showcase and residency at Powerplant Mall’s Comme Ci, Renz Reyes is establishing his place in the local fashion pantheon with his signature flair. This project, presented by the PHx Fashion Group, represents a defining moment in a decade-long creative journey.
Reyes always knew he would pursue an artistic path. “Ever since I was young, I knew I was going to work in a creative field,” he shares. Initially drawn to fine arts, he explored various mediums in college before he caught the fashion bug.
“Fashion just felt right. It gave me excitement that I didn’t get from anything else,” he explains. It was this realisation that led him to take a short course in fashion after graduating, placing him on a trajectory that would define his career.
Related: Behind the Seams: Meet 8 designers redefining the Filipino fashion world
Above A portrait of fashion designer Renz Reyes (Photo: Courtesy of Renz Reyes)
A portrait of fashion designer Renz Reyes (Photo: Courtesy of Renz Reyes)
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The road to success is never a straight path, as the young designer recalls struggling to break into the industry, juggling jobs as a retail graphic designer to fund his big break. Persistence paid off when he landed a role as an embroiderer for none other than Natori. There, he worked his way up to head designer.
Competitions were also a crucial stepping stone for Reyes. He won his first design contest while still a student and later gained national recognition with the Bench Design Awards in 2018. This win led to a show at Amazon Tokyo Fashion Week and glowing reviews from various international outlets. “Winning the Bench Design Awards gave me the validation and motivation to continue on this path,” he reflects.
Above A model wears an ensemble by Renz Reyes (Photo: Makie Cruz)
Above An ensemble by Renz Reyes (Photo: Makie Cruz)
A model wears an ensemble by Renz Reyes (Photo: Makie Cruz)
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Reyes’s designs are unmistakably his own, guided by a mastery of patternmaking and embellishment. His design ethos involves taking utilitarian influences and imbuing them with a strange elegance—buzzy and complex at the same time. His Bench Fashion Week 2023 show saw denim pieces collaged together with his signature embroidery, sometimes resembling wiring on a circuit breaker.
“I love switching codes—making casual fabrics feel tailored and dressing while giving formal fabrics an easy, understated quality,” he shares.
Storytelling is a vital component of his creative process, which often begins with collages he crafts from his own photography. Influenced by his admiration for designers like John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, his body of work carries a dramatic flair that remains refined and balanced, never tipping into the excessive.
More from Tatler: New narratives in Filipino fashion, according to Carl Jan Cruz
Above An ensemble by Renz Reyes (Photo: Makie Cruz)
An ensemble by Renz Reyes (Photo: Makie Cruz)
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Codex of Design marks a milestone for Reyes as he transitions to fully focusing on his own brand. He credits his involvement with the PHx Fashion Group as instrumental in this new chapter. Participating in both collective’s pop-up in Greenbelt Mall as well as its conference provided a platform for him to connect with clients and refine his approach to the ready-to-wear sphere.
Looking back, Reyes attributes his success to resilience and authenticity. “Hard work pays off. I feel like I’ve definitely paid my dues—working on the sidelines while waiting for my time,” he says. Collaboration and lifelong learning have also been key. He humbly admits, “I’m a very self-reliant person, but I’ve learned that asking for help is part of the process.”
Above An ensemble by Renz Reyes (Photo: Makie Cruz)
An ensemble by Renz Reyes (Photo: Makie Cruz)
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As for the future, he envisions continued growth for his brand and hopes to mentor young designers, providing the support he lacked early in his career. “I want to showcase my clothes on a more global stage,” he says. “I think there’s a place for all of us out there.”
With Codex of Design, Reyes is not only showcasing his creative evolution but also actively contributing to the broader narrative of Filipino fashion. “I just want to envision myself making more clothes and expressing all the facets of myself design-wise,” he continues.
“I think everyone wants to be successful and we all have goals of being the next big thing. But whatever the case, I want to do it while also making clothes I’m proud of—because making clothes brings me joy.”
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Credits
Interview: Franz Sorilla IV & Julianna Cabili
About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
