The rising star of UAE fashion: Erick Talledo

  Erick Talledo came to the UAE to pursue a dream—to be a successful couturier. Eight years after he arrived in the emirates from Isabela province in the Philippines, Talledo appears close to making that dream a reality, with the bashful designer now considered a rising star in the UAE fashion industry. The Abu Dhabi-based designer has dressed dignitaries, socialites, celebrities and members of the royal families in the capital, Dubai and other emirates. He is also active in the local events scene where he is often commissioned to design dresses for hosts or participants. Talledo has dressed Philippine celebrities Aubrey Miles, Troy Montero, MYMP, Jam Morales and Dianne Medina during their latest gigs in the UAE. erick talledo's creation
Last month, he designed the outfit of popular Philippine comedian Willie Revillame and the hosts of Philippine game show Wowowin during the Abu Dhabi leg of their show. Erick Talledo with Willie Revillame
Looking back, the 36-year-old Talledo says it is his dream that keeps him motivated to be good in what he does. In the pursuit of one's goal in life—whatever it is—Erick says one should "live out their dreams as long as they don't do harm to anybody". Expatmedia.net talked to Talledo to get to know what brought him to the UAE, his life in the country, and what advice he has for fellow expatriates. What drew you to the UAE? I had a shop in the Philippines but because of hard times, I decided to try my luck in Dubai. I heard that fashion ideas are limitless in Dubai and I was intrigued so I decided to come here. What kind of clothes do you design and make? I design simple, wearable outfits. I don't have a theme when I make clothes because I am more concerned with what my clients want. But my personal theme is classic. What's the most interesting outfit you have designed? I recently designed outfits for a celebrity comedian from the Philippines. It should be noted that we should be respectful of the UAE culture so I have to come up with something fun yet respectable. Do you also do avant-garde designs or use non-conventional materials? I have tried black garbage bags before as non-conventional materials for clothes. It was fun to manipulate it. Which designer do you look up to or inspires you? I have friends in the fashion circle who I exchange ideas with. We have mutual respect and there is no sense of competition at all. Just a friendly exchange of visions. It is helpful to all of us. Which local or international celebrities have you created outfits for? I've had two beauty queens wear my clothes and tell me they appreciate my style. Some Philippine celebrities who had shows here in Abu Dhabi also wore my clothes. It was an awesome experience making clothes for them. erick talledo's creation
Do you plan to set up shops in the Philippines or in the fashion capitals of the world like Milan, New York, Paris or London? Yes (laughs). I'm ambitious. But seriously, I plan to branch out, if fate allows me. Maybe in Italy or London. What's your fashion forecast for the next decade? Eco-fashion will be the trend in the coming years. I am experimenting on biodegradable materials to be made into clothes. I don't know if it's possible but I'll be working on it. What do you like about expat life in the UAE? What I like about expat life in the UAE is that all people are dynamic and we all have a purpose in coming here – to pursue our dreams. I myself have my own purpose – to be successful in my field. Is there anything you wish to improve about your life here? There is nothing I want to change about life here. It is safe, people are law-abiding, we are allowed to have fun and meet people from different cultures. What do you do to unwind? The UAE has a lot of resorts. Going to the beach, especially during summer, is something I look forward to. I meet friends as well to have a good chat over coffee. Dancing is also something I do to relax. UAE-based Filipino designer Erick Talledo.
What's your life motto? Live out your dreams as long you don't cause harm to anybody and pursue your dreams until you reach that state of contentment. What is your message to expats in the UAE? We are very fortunate to be here in the UAE. Most of our compatriots go to great lengths just to be able to come here to search for greener pastures, so to speak. Let's take this opportunity to make our own lives and the life of our families better and at the same time go and fulfill our dreams in life.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