Filipino fashion blogger Bryanboy back in Dubai

Dubai: He’s back! Fashion blogger Bryanboy — who we met in January this year when he had a flying visit to the city — will be spending the next week in the UAE.

And while he does have high hopes of a desert safari, he’s really here to take part in the third season of Fashion Forward, the fashion event with catwalk shows and industry talks focused on regional designers.

The Filipino blogger met his compatriots Michael Cinco, Furne One and Fashion Forward founder Bong Guerrero during his last visit, so will of course be taking in shows by Filipino designers at the three-day event. Here’s what else he’s looking out for.

Q. You’re giving a talk on Saturday?

A. I am going to be having a conversation about the blog, my career. I guess it’s going to be an informal conversation. I get nervous. When I am communicating online, I can filter myself, but in front of an audience I feel like there’s a lot of pressure. But I never hide anything.

Q. Which shows are you planning to see?

A. It’s funny because some of the designers are acquaintances of mine in the Filipino community. I am looking forward to Ezra, I am very curious to see Emperor 1688, the menswear brand. When you say Dubai designers, they get categorised as haute couture, so it will be interesting to see other designers. I am doing Essa, Zayan. If I see something that I like I am going to blog about it.

Q. You go to all the major fashion weeks. What would you advise to see this fashion week?

A. It starts with the designers, they have to create something that you don’t see elsewhere. You cannot compete with a mega fashion extravaganza like Paris. It also starts with the consumers. I would assume some of the shows here will have a consumer aspect to it. In Milan or Paris they don’t really invite consumers. I think that they need to focus on social media — it’s great that they invited a lot of bloggers and they are going to be livestreaming shows.

Q. The last time we spoke, you were most excited about what Nicolas Ghesquiere was going to do at Louis Vuitton. What did you think of his debut?

A. I thought what he’s doing is incredibly fresh for the brand, and it’s geared towards youth. There’s still a lot of the Nicolas elements like the new fabrications, the really French silhouettes. The bags are incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this before. I think Vuitton is going for a younger audience. When Marc was there it was for an image. Now they really want to sell clothes. At first my reaction was ‘underwhelming’, but when you put some thought into it, it really makes sense, what he’s doing.