By: Ralph Galarrita, Jr.
Fashion connoisseurs often focus on their own niches, be it painting or designing wearable arts, but not Jean Pioso, a burgeoning Filipina designer who excels in both.
After emigrating to the US and coming from a humble past in the Philippines, she started painting during her spare time to escape nostalgia, musing on her longing for her family in the Philippines and her husband, who is in the Navy and is always away. Her love for painting made her explore beyond the boundaries of her artistic hunches. Like a blank canvas, she never imagined morphing her way into becoming a fashion designer. It all started when a client was astounded by her collection displayed during an event in Los Angeles and urged her to attend a fashion show. It eventually created an abyss of new dimensions as she explored venturing into designing clothes.
Her climb to the top had been very steep. Like others who traverse valleys, she had her fair share of triumphs and defeats. Hustling full-time jobs, taking care of her business and family and wallowing into being alone after her son went to college in San Francisco, she has averted into molding her passion for the arts without even thinking of making it big. Apart from the criticisms she vehemently withstood, her biggest ordeal when she started was the betrayal of her trusted friend whom she hired when she made her first collection. It was an ordeal that nearly prompted her to halt into pushing further.
However, her close-knit family has always shown unparalleled support from afar, always giving her enough motivation to continue pushing further and just fulfill her personal goals and become the best of who she is.
Cutting cross seams and always trying to paint a picture of something, she now found her euphoric moment after establishing her niche in the fashion industry. As a Filipina designer based in the US, she drew motivation from her chosen circle of allies. She is now hurdling into driving to Los Angeles almost every weekend to attend meetings and several engagements.
She also has built her network of models, clients, fellow art enthusiasts and fellow business owners/designers. Her most recent collaboration is with Alegre De Pilipinas, LLC., in which her new collection of bags and purses that are truly one of a kind and clothing line is featured through digital ads and fashion shows.
She draws inspiration from her work as a medical social worker and military ombudsman and her advocacy for self-preservation. She believes her greatest contribution is representing military families in the fashion world and providing jobs to her workers in the Philippines. She has incorporated military themes into her designs twice, first during New York Fashion Week in February, where she showcased a military tribute luxury purse paired with a dress of her design. Her second showcase will be during Paris Fashion Week this year. Her recent designs of bags and purses that are truly one of a kind are made by her workers in the Philippines. She believes it is important to highlight the sacrifices made by active-duty military veterans and their families.
It is also important to highlight the sacrifices made by her workers. As a military ombudsman, therapist, and spouse, she feels indebted to them and can relate to their hardships. She will continue to support them through her paintings and designs, including her upcoming jewelry line collections. She also uses her design bags, corsets, and dresses to support underprivileged families in the Philippines. She has created a foundation to support underprivileged children in the Philippines. She believes contributing to the community and helping those in need is more beautiful than creating a dress.
When asked about her fashion inspiration, she clearly states that individuals with excellent fashion sense inspire her. However, she has observed well-known figures dress elegantly, including Catherine, Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cambridge, the late Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, Sheikha Moza of Qatar, and Imelda Marcos, who always wear beautiful Filipiniana dresses. Additionally, she recently learned about many Filipino designers who excel in the United States and internationally, whom she also admires. Moreover, she has been inspired by individuals who express their own sense of fashion and exude confidence and elegance not only on the outside but also on the inside.
On her https://www.jeanamourcouture.com/ and www.jeanamour.com website, she has showcased a plethora of merchandise. However, her greatest accomplishment is when clientele trusts her wholeheartedly as a designer. She has been honored with numerous awards and nominations, including the WOW ( Woman of Worth ) award, her certificate of recognition from the city of Carson, California, for her noteworthy accomplishments as a Filipino American and the AmerAsia awards for her exceptional work as an artist, designer, and model.
On November 18, 2023, she will have a solo painting exhibit and fashion show in San Diego showcasing her oil paintings and latest collections. Additionally, she is launching her jewelry line and one-of-a-kind bra collection in Paris this year.
It seems that Jean is set to make a big impact in the fashion industry. Keep an eye out for her in the coming months, as she is dedicated to creating unconventional and unique fashion designs and paintings that will make a lasting impression. On her humble desire, she is determined to establish herself as an artist and leave her own mark in the industry.
This week she will be showcasing her stunning creations in PARIS FASHION WEEK under ALEGRE DE PILIPINAS INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS by JANICE TENTLER. She will be partnering with ALEGRE and for the rest of her events that coming up.
Visit www.alegredepilipinas.net for more updates.
Social Media FB: Alegre De Pilipinas “official”
Ralph Galarrita, Jr.
Editor-in-Chief
Alegre de Filipinas, LLC
