The emerging design house showcases the raw, authentic, and imperfect side of Filipino heritage, one collection at a time If you ask Ziv Rei Alexi then, he never saw himself as a fashion designer. The idea only came to him during a school fair. Sure, he loved dressing up, but the idea of pursuing a career in the industry wasn’t part of his plan.
Now, he couldn’t imagine himself doing something different. “My decision to study fashion is somewhat an impulsive choice. I hadn't originally planned to pursue design but I feel like I just had to do it,” the designer tells Style Weekend.
Born in Cavite, Ziv, 23, entered the fashion industry during the pandemic-new normal milieu. While it may seem to be a challenge for a young designer to start a business during that period, he confessed that he enjoyed the quiet moments of the times—getting in touch with his inner thoughts and freely creating pieces whether it is during the witching hours or the light of day. For Ziv, his design house is more than just a brand.
It aims to represent the different side of Philippine lifestyle and heritage, its rawness and imperfections. He designs with intention, aiming to mirror what the Philippines is today with his creation. “Everything we do in Ziv Rei Alexi is mostly based on intuition, feel, our pinoy heritage and in the most mundane things,” Ziv muses.
“We just rock and roll all the way.” This can be seen in his first collection, a graduation line he prepared as a Fashion Desi.
