MASTER OF THE GAME

For Paul Cabral, it took a long time to get to the point where he is, but it was all worth it as he lays claim to the title of the country's Fashion King

- Angela Nicole Guiral

Paul Cabral’s journey towards success wasn’t entirely sunshine and rainbows. At first, he took Accounting as a programme in his university years, then shifted career paths. “I wanted to be a make-up artist after graduation. I applied for a job but my previous employers told me there’s only an opening for a fashion designer,” he says. This started his foray into doing window displays. Then, under an apprenticeship with fashion designer Aureo Alonzo, he learnt the craft’s basics. “I think I have learnt from the best one can ask for,” he shares. “I studied the quality of workmanship, colour and fabric manipulation and intricate designs, among others.” Along the way, he got to work and collaborate with fellow masters like Joe Salazar.

He recalls fondly that the first piece of clothing he was obsessed with was one of Salazar’s creations: a modern Filipiniana—a “Maria Clara”, as he describes. The designer Inno Sotto also helped ignite the creative side of Cabral, especially his tailored works with three-dimensional tailoring. “I want something different, something you don’t normally see outside or anywhere else,” he says. “These designers’ craftsmanship were honed by time, which translates to their unique works.”