Manila, Philippines ? Retirement plan. That?s what what Marlon Rivera calls his sudden debut as a fashion designer at the recent Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2009 collections.

An accomplished man in various fields?he?s president and executive creative director of the ad agency Publicis Manila, a professor at the University of the Philippines, a makeup artist, a fashion stylist, a costume designer and even an indie film producer? it was while watching last year?s Fashion Week that Rivera had his epiphany of sorts to make his high-school dream into reality.

?I had to do it. I was getting old,? he says with a schoolboy giggle. ?I?m not just saying this, but I?ve never felt so excited about something. I?ve done this process at all points, but I?ve never done the whole process myself. I never realized the emotional cost,? he adds, detailing how, literally one by one, he put together his 120-piece (35 looks) collection at night and on the weekends of the last three months.

?It was overwhelming but I?ve never been overwhelmed by something in a long time, so it?s good. Para akong bagets ulit! [I felt young again!]?

Knowing full well his technical limitations?he had no formal training, practicing only on pieces he bought and took apart from the ?ukay-ukay [flea market].? and his experience as costume designer for stage plays?Rivera was prudent to put together a collection that wasn?t overambitious and, yes, retail-ready. (The clothes will be available from a Multiply site he?s setting up.)

Working crowd

Aimed at the working crowd, he sent out softly tailored jackets inspired by the Japanese yukata, a summer garment, and tops and minidresses that followed the shape of the kimono, their repetitiveness broken only by his experiments on contrasting fabrics, either of texture or coloration.

His theme was buoyed not just by his penchant for things Japanese. He said the patterns are simple and straight, thus easier to cut.

?First, I started to make show pieces, but I realized that wasn?t me. I?m a sensible kind of person so I started making wearable clothes. It?s about what I believe in. I would say to myself, this skirt better match three other pieces.?

Even his subdued palette? blacks, creams, grays with a single men?s shirt in indigo? seems to have been dictated by the sensibility of an astute shopper.

On a couple of slouchy jumpsuits, and some retro-futuristic sculpted shoulders akin to those seen at Balmain and Givenchy for Fall 2009, Rivera also tested the limits of his technical know-how. It should be interesting to see what he does next when he masters draping, a technique he admits he has yet to learn.

This is one ?retirement? that should be fascinating to watch.