“Fashion is the extension of our personalities. It dignifies our humanity just like art and music. I believe in capturing elegance; Fashion is the extension of our personalities. It dignifies our humanity just like art and music. I believe in capturing elegance; An allure of romantic feminism with a tailored twist. It speaks of a modern dignified grace.” – David Tupaz
If you have not heard of this hotshot Filipino designer causing ooohs and aaahs amongst A-listers on the red carpet, you are either living under the rock or you need to go to Vegas because that’s where he’s making waves now!
David Tupaz moved to Las Vegas in 2010 but before that, he lived in New York for a long time, then moved to California to design for different TV shows like “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Boston Legal.” Among those he dressed in Hollywood include Lucy Liu, Natalie Cole, Kris Kardashian-Jenner, Bruce Jenner, Lisa Rinna, William and Elizabeth Shatner, Allan and Tonya Thicke, David Foster, Tracie Kristin Chenoweth, Mariel Hemingway, Martin Sheen, Sofia Milos of “CSI Miami” and Mitzi Kapture of “Baywatch,” Bai Ling, Billy Zane, David Foster, Tracie and Scott Hamilton. Seems like the fashionistas of Los Angeles have David on speed dial when they are in need couturier.
In an online write-up, David was asked how he gets inspiration for his work and he replied: ”You get inspired from events, occasions, music, movie, TV show, friends… all of us can get inspiration because the universe by itself is one big art. I think the universe, as we see the stars and the planets and the comets… I mean that’s art right there. And I think being artists, a lot of us are sometimes not understood, a lot of artists are denied being understood… why, because most of us are kinda weird. Being artists and creative people, we see things differently than the ordinary person.”
Vegas, make way for David!
You would think that with all the frills that come with rubbing elbows with famous celebrities, leaving California was not an option for David. Wrong! In fact, what made him leave for Vegas is what kept many designers in fashionable cities such LA or New York: competition. Not that he would shy away from that, but because as much as there’s a lucrative business (not to mention, fame) in such cities, there’s also complacency to tap potential market in some cities. And that’s what David saw potential in the city the never sleeps. He saw potential and he just made a move for it. Now he has his own design studio, was hailed as 2015 International Designer of the Year, and has a holiday named after his name, called “David Tupaz Day.” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaimed June 3rd as David’s day to recognize his great contribution to the city’s fashion industry.
In 2011, David established a non-profit organization called the Las Vegas Design Council to help the creative growth of the local designers to build an industry in the city.
“I came to Vegas. I realized that Las Vegas is a city by itself. It has so many districts and so many places. It is not only where the casinos are or where the hotels are. There are so many people living in this city that there’s a lot of potential. I found out they don’t have a fashion industry which I said well, why can’t I pioneer that. So that’s the reason why I moved,” he said.
As a magazine editor-in-chief, he recently launched the fashion industry in Las Vegas through its first fashion magazine called L’VEGUE, a quarterly magazine highlighting all the talented creative people who live in the city. He was on the front page of the Review Journal’s Business section (their version of the L.A. Times), then again in the Las Vegas Business magazine, and was interviewed on Channel 13 TV News, as well as the TV show ‘Morning Blend’ and Channel 5 Morning News. As for his future projects, David has an upcoming fashion show in New York and Portland, Oregon.
David is unstoppable and there’s plenty more we haven’t seen. Because, just like he said, “The future Calvin Klein can come from here knowing how glamorous the city is.” And frankly, my friends, he is well on his way of making that happen very very soon.
Good luck to you David and may you continue to make a name in Vegas! Your Kababayans are proud of you.
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Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at [email protected]
