UAE-based fashion designer speaks about highs and lows of being a Cannes favourite.
Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco, who dressed up top Cambodian actress Yubin Shin in an electric blue gown with thousands of laser-cut flower detailing at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, claims his war cry for this prestigious film and fashion showcase is simple: “Go big or go home.”
And he has followed this fashion philosophy religiously every year when he sends a large shipment of gowns so that celebrities attending the festival from around the globe can live their fantasy red carpet moment.
“In my experience of dressing up stars from around the globe at Cannes, the actors and their stylists seek out huge, humongous gowns with long trains … Think big and dramatic,” said Cinco in an exclusive interview with Gulf News over the phone.
“After all, it’s often their dream to walk the famous red carpet and make a bold fashion statement,” said Cinco with a laugh.
Case in point: the tulle and organza flower-studded royal blue gown with halter neck worn by Shin took over a month to execute and assemble, showcasing Cinco’s attention to detail and craftsmanship. The actress was spotted at the red carpet premiere of ‘Firebrand’, a film in the Cannes competition section.
For this year’s Cannes Film Festival, he also designed a yellow gown for Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari. She’s yet to walk the red carpet.
“Her stylist from India was in touch with our team and we created a custom-made skirt in her favourite colour, yellow, along with an elaborate top. She’s likely to wear it on May 24 and I can’t wait to see her in them,” said Cinco.
Apparently, designers have little control over the gowns that stars ultimately choose and like fans, they too wait to see if their creations make the cut.
“It’s nerve wracking, but also exciting to see stars choose my designs for their big day out at Cannes … Stars and stylists, these days, are clued in about fashion because of the mushrooming of social media and so being plucked from a variety of choices is a big deal,” said Cinco.
The Dubai connect:
This Filipino talent, who moved to Dubai in 1997 and runs his own eponymous atelier, has become a favourite among Hollywood, Bollywood and Asian royalty. Hollywood pop idols such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Lopez have all chosen Cinco’s creations for their public appearances in the past. Bollywood A-lister Salman Khan also wore his jacket for one of his hit films, shot in Dubai.
However, Cinco attributes his soaring popularity on the Cannes fashion circuit to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, former Miss World and one of India’s biggest cultural exports.