MANILA, Philippines?Fashionistas, meet your designer, Rhett Eala the visual artist.

No, that?s not a typo error, and yes, that?s the same Mr. Eala.

As a follow-up to his maiden collection for Collezione C2, the clothing designer returns to his visual arts roots with an exhibit of his mixed media works, ?My Pilipinas the Series,? his varied renditions of the Philippine flag, which inspired his collection for the ready-to-wear brand.

When Collezione had its relaunch in August and reintroduced a new image for the 36-year-old brand (thus the addition of ?C2? to the name), it picked Eala, a designer known for elegant cocktail and evening wear, as its creative director. Eala also has experience in RTW design (for the now-defunct labels Due for Rustan?s and Wink).

Eala has injected brand-new life and now-ness to Collezione, bringing the local brand?s name to the fore once again. Part of that first collection was the classic piqué polo silk-screened with the Philippine map in shiny gold, which sold so well that Collezione C2 decided to expand it into a full collection.

?We want to let people know that being patriotic is hip and cool,? said Joey Qua, president of Collezione C2. Fashion, he added, can be one way to promote nationalism in the youth. The brand has coined the word ?fashionalista? to describe fashionistas who are nationalists at heart.

In a rather unique launch in these parts, Collezione C2?s ?My Pilipinas? collection was introduced Wednesday as installation pieces alongside Eala?s artworks?19 mixed-media Rorschach inkblot-like pieces that channeled his inspirations, pop artists like Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst. Think Philippine flag incorporated with a Hirst skull. Or the sun in the Philippine flag reproduced in multiple colors à la Warhol.

Sculptor Impy Pilapil, a family friend of the Ealas, curated the show. (Reproductions were sold to the press in a mock auction by emcee and Manila tour guide extraordinaire Carlos Celdran.)

Some designs from Eala?s artworks (which will be sold and exhibited until June 14 at CAV in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig), will be reproduced in shirts, polos and women?s mini and maxi dresses.

?I haven?t painted in years and never this big,? Eala said. ?It?s so much more emotional. When you?re designing a dress you can be detached ... I won?t stop painting now. Everybody retires. There will come a time when I leave fashion. I?ll have something to go back to.?

He added, ?It?s only in the Philippines where there are more couture than RTW designers, and it?s sad. It?s good to do bridal and all that stuff because they?re really special. But you have the same market and they just go around [from one designer to the next]. But RTW is very gratifying. You have a bigger reach. Your ego is fed very well.?