Full Circle: From New York to Manila

New York seduces the great talents of the world to settle in the city that never sleeps. Anyone who has been offered the opportunity to live in the Big Apple almost always takes the bite. But not Philippine fashion's man of the hour, Alex Mendoza.

After graduating summa cum laude in Fashion Merchandising Management at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, Mendoza could have easily landed a job in NYC or anywhere else in the world. Instead, he opted to come home to Manila.

After a short stint in advertising, he pursued his heart's desire to be in the fashion industry and to put his international training and exposure in fashion to great use. Currently, he is the brand director of one of the country's most dynamic fashion labels, Penshoppe.

With the ever-changing demands of his work, Mendoza draws inspiration from the city he calls his second home, New York. As he plans the future of his brand, he talks about the best times he spent in the city that influenced his personal style the most.

What does New York mean to you?

Alex Mendoza: New York City to me is the center of the world and what I consider my second home. It's the city where I literally feel the energy flowing through me when I walk the streets. It's also the city where I feel I'm most free and, hilariously, more sophisticated just by the act of people-watching. My favorite place on earth is Central Park, and no trip to New York is justifiable without it.

What's your take on NYC as the 'fashion capital of the world'?

AM: I take my cue from Coco Chanel -fashion isn't fashion until it hits the streets. Among all the major cities in the world that I've been to, New York is really the place where trends are faithfully followed by a huge population. In fact, you'd have to be blind to not notice a fashion trend in New York. Nowhere is fashion more evident than in New York.

How was it like studying in FIT back in the late '90s?

AM: It was extremely useful to me to have been exposed to fashion right in the garment district. All our professors had to have at least 10 years of experience in the industry. Our "lab work" was going down to the vault and viewing actual samples of whatever it was we were discussing. When my professor said "this is a 1938 Mariano Fortuny gown," she was really holding it in front of us! We were shown original Halston dresses made from one piece of fabric and no stitching. We were even able to study the workmanship of civil war uniforms! If that doesn't give you a direct lesson in fashion, I don't know what will. I was also fortunate to have fashion luminaries as speakers in my class-- Diane von Furstenberg, Matthew Williamson, and Oscar de la Renta , to name a few. We got to ask them directly on techniques, their sense of style, and even outlooks in life.

How did the vibe of the city influence your personal style?

AM: New Yorkers always dress impeccably, with full attention to detail. After some time, I already had a keen eye for telling who was from Manhattan or not. Probably the biggest influence New York had on me was in wearing black. I think I wore black for four years after I moved back! In New York, I learned that you're free to express your sense of style in any way you want...just don't be boring!

Did you ever regret not staying in New York?

AM: Never. I can always travel to NYC any time I want. It's a personal choice for me to live where my heart is. But even if I live in another country, I don't think I will ever become less of a Filipino. But I choose to live here. The Philippines is my home.