Ahtisa Manalo's Miss Universe prelims gown uses Swarovski crystals from Catriona Gray's Sinag dress: designer
Filipino designer Mak Tumang and stylist Patty Yap shared more details about Ahtisa Manalo's preliminary evening gown for the 74th Miss Universe.
According to Tumang, he was asked to create an evening gown for the Philippine bet just 18 days before they left for the pageant in Thailand.
"The timeline was unforgiving, the pressure immense," he said on Instagram. "Yet somehow, we pushed through and delivered with flying colors."
Tumang then revealed that to make the Pinctada gown, a midnight blue and gold creation inspired by the South Sea pearl, he had to "dismantle" the gold Swarovski crystals from Catriona Gray's Binibining Pilipinas 2018 coronation gown, Sinag, saying it was "the most heartbreaking, yet deeply fulfilling part of the journey."
"It wasn’t a choice I wanted to make, but a choice I had to make. The timeframe simply couldn’t allow sourcing that rare material again," he explained.
Tumang said that while it was "painful" to do it, the hard work was all "worth it."
In the post, he shared some behind-the-scenes moments of the Pinctada gown, "snapshots of a journey fueled by passion, pressure, and purpose."
In a separate video on Empire TV's YouTube channel, Tumang talked more about the creation of the dress.
"For the collaboration of this gown, hinayaan nila ko to do this one para mailabas ko yung vision ko for her," the designer said.
"I used an unconventional material, I used a razor-cut brass material na linagay sa upper part to frame the face of Ahtisa, and then naglagay kami sa lower part ng skirt para may konting movement and para mas interesting yung texture," he continued.
Yap, meanwhile, revealed that despite having two designs ready—one by designer Val Taguba—she gave Manalo the final choice in selecting the gown she would wear for the most crucial segment of the competition.
"Binigay ko yung bola kay Ahtisa. ‘Kung ano yung nararamdaman mo, kung saan ka confident, go. At the end of the day, I feeel mo yung ambience, ikaw naman makakaramddam diyan eh. Pag naramdaman mo yung spark of joy, yun na yun. Yun na yung suotin mo,"" she said.
Tumnang said that Gray's Sinag will "definitely be restored."