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When fashion designer Franko Barrio received the request from Carla Abellana to design the bridesmaid dresses for her wedding, he said yes in heartbeat. The actress had a vision of unique black-and-white pieces that look like they came straight off the runways of Fashion Week—something that has never before been asked of the designer in his entire career of designing for weddings.
In an Instagram post, the 35-year-old actress was all praises with Franko's stunning creations and for helping her bring a vision into life.
"A collaboration between two individuals sharing the same couture dreams and runway ideas. Something that I've been longing to execute with @franko.barrio for my entourage," Carla wrote, noting how her vision for her entourage isn't typically executed in the local bridal scene. "No to infinity gowns, no to typical bridesmaids gowns, no to the usual mother of the bride and groom gowns. Ugh. I really dislike those (sorry not sorry ladies.)"
She then adds, "YES to couture. Yes to no-tow-gowns-alike. HUGE YES to printed. This is what I wanted to achieve and Franko did exactly that."
The couture designer, who owns an eponymous bridal label, made a lasting impression on Carla when she saw his work on a wedding held at Malaga, Spain. Franko developed a quiet reputation for his unique tailor-made service that straddles old-school couture and modern fashion.
She knew he would nail the looks she wanted in mind, so when it was time for her own wedding, she put her full trust in Franko's creativity.
"She didn't even ask for a sketch! It was the first time for me to meet a client who did that," Franko shares in an exclusive interview with Preview.
The commission came at a tricky time, given the pandemic restrictions that halted their fittings. In the end, he said he had the best time making the dresses for the ladies in Carla's entourage. "The bridesmaids were so cool! They really liked how the pieces worked together," he shares.
Here's a closer look at some of the bridesmaids' looks from the #TomCar wedding:
Feminine with an edgy twist, comfortable yet still chic. This is how we would describe Carla and Franko's collaboration for the #TomCar nuptials.
When asked about how he sees the future of bridal fashion, the talented designer replied, "After the pandemic, brides are really big on sustainability. They want their bridesmaids to still be able to wear their dresses in other events, and they're always on the hunt for no-frills, unique styles."
It's safe to say that he nailed Carla's vision. Beautiful work, Franko!
