Cheena Ng Lio

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?
I am Cheena Ng Lio, the face behind AMOUR.

The brand name, Amour, means a secret love affair which is carried out by our designs.
Amour gives you the feeling that a surreptitious affair offers. Allows you to be Enticing, alluring, and playful but restricts you from going beyond what is refined and superior. As soon as you see beauty in the freedom that private moments give you, YOU REVEAL. In secrecy you give everything away, but we leave you with nothing but PURE sense of FEMININITY and PRIDE.

Meaning, It shows intimacy, excitement and foolishness in secrecy.the designs focus on pieces that can be very feminine and playful but still holds on to sophisticated and reserved type of Glamour.

The idea of Amour basically started out with the type of clothes that I would go for. Simple yet stylish.

I Am a true blood Scholastican, armed with a degree in Marketing Management and enlaced with School of Fashion and Arts’ (SoFA) training. I hoping to continue spreading out and wow the fashion industry with original ingredients of Trusting in every femininity’s power to radiate beauty of its own and having a genuine passion for art and fashion.

Where do you get your design inspiration?
Everywhere. It’s true that you can get inspiration from anything under the sun. The leaf on the ground, a web in a garden, or even the current mood I am in on a particular day, and more. I also get inspired with people that are part of my life and those that I meet along the way.

When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?
I didn’t really plan it, it just happened. Some do say, that I’m might just not be aware of it but when i was growing up, people already noticed signs that I was headed to this direction. They said I was “maarte”, and I do recall having that strong desire to look or dress a certain way and stand out somehow.

Its honestly an indescribable happy feeling when people appreciate my style or taste in fashion. I remember, I got emotional, and genuinely teary eyed when someone asked me to design for them. Their appreciation to my craft made me realize that I really want to do this. That felt like a sign or signal for me to be serious about it and continue sharing my talent and what I love to do. I want to make people look and feel beautiful. Para saken, hindi lang basta designs ang importante eh. Another big part is the relationship that u build from a clients plus the appreciation from them.

What does fashion mean to you?
It might sound like a cliche but for me it’s an art that you can see and actually touch or feel and even at times interact with. It’s a way of expressing yourself with NO FEAR!!

It’s where my passion lies and will forever be a love of mine that I will continue to try and share with everyone.

What was the first article of clothing you ever designed?
A dress. You know when you’re a kid, especially with most girls, you want to look and feel pretty. You want to be a princess, so I drew a dress back when I was a kid. Back then I never knew I will be in Fashion so looking back that memory holds a special place in my heart.

What do you like best about designing clothes and whats the most challenging part?
I love the entire process of designing. From Inspiration, trying to contain the thought either into a piece of clothing or an accessory, up to the connection you make with a client.

It’s funny because when you say “challenging” it tends to have a negative notion. Challenges in my chosen career is an opportunity to grow. So I welcome it and don’t really think of it as a “bump in the road” I need to go through. It’s just a normal thing for me. Siguro if I really had to choose one, it would be trying to adjust? Because you have your own way of doing things or your own ideas and when someone has their own take of how it should come out, you try to find a compromise. You need to find yourself in what that particular person asks from you or on the end product.

What do you believe makes a quality article of clothing?
I always aim for a well made dress or clothing. Quality I think shouldn’t just stop at construction. For me another side of it is where your client is happy and satisfied with what you give them.

How would you define your personal style?
I experiment a lot and I always try to go for elegance. Minsan simple ako, minsan “fashyon” or maporma. Haha. I’m a bit girly but there’s a certain strength or attitude I carry when I wear my clothes.

What are some of your fashion goals?
From my experience, I want to do more weddings. I love being part of such a great experience, and a very special day for couples.

I also want to make a statment more with my designs.
Of course, makilala pa! Hehe.

Who’s your most influential fashion designer/s?
Monique Lhuillier. I just love her and her designs!

What do you wish people would understand about working in the fashion industry?
It’s pure hard work and dedication. Hindi sya puro glamore. More on hard work actually sya. You also have to be very open minded and youneed to have an EAR! You need to be a good listener, and be very attentive to your clients.

What trends do you see being big for 2011?
Fashion revival’s have actually been quite noticeable lately. I saw a bit of seventies start to come back, like the Wide Leg Trouser.

Another would be Long dresses. Patterned and Printed fabrics are everywhere too, separate or nicely put-together.

What are your favorite colors to work with and why?
I would have to say black and loud colors. Black because it’s good with everything. It’s very classic, elegant but can give you a bit of an edge if used properly in a design or style.

Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
www.amourmanila.com

I am now trying to maintain Amour’s blog to hopefully be able to reach out more to people. They can also see Amour at The Ramp Crossings in Trinoma and Glorietta, as well as in Archeology Power Plant Mall at Ruth and Esther.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion?
Don’t do it if you’re just after fame, status or just because you felt good dressing up your barbies. There has to be something stronger than that. After all, you will do it for a long time. It might turn out to be a waste if you wanted to try it and change your mind afterwards.

Don’t be too rigid with numbers at this early stage, just enjoy what you do and love whatever it is that you can come up with. Everyday holds a new opportunity to learn and before you know it, your slowly getting closer to where you want to be.

There’s also many different areas where you can try into, there is Fashion Styling, Fashion Photography, Writer, etc. It might be good to educate yourself in these, so you can zone in on where you would be perfectly suited for.

Any closing thoughts?
I guess I’d like to thank you, my family, friends, clients and everyone else who has made my journey extra special.
I look forward to more experiences, more relationships built, and at the same time be part of other people’s experiences or memories.

1. cheena fan said on March 16, 2011 at 9:45 am

   

   “What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion?
   Don’t do it if you’re just after fame, status or just because you felt good dressing up your barbies. There has to be something stronger than that. After all, you will do it for a long time. It might turn out to be a waste if you wanted to try it and change your mind afterwards.

   Don’t be too rigid with numbers at this early stage, just enjoy what you do and love whatever it is that you can come up with. Everyday holds a new opportunity to learn and before you know it, your slowly getting closer to where you want to be.

   There’s also many different areas where you can try into, there is Fashion Styling, Fashion Photography, Writer, etc. It might be good to educate yourself in these, so you can zone in on where you would be perfectly suited for. ”

   THis is why she is one of my favorite designers of all time. She has achieved a lot already, yet she remains humble at all costs! Also, I really feel that she is a real designers. She is doing this not because of the fame and the money, but because this is her…

   FASHION IS HER.

   I really appreciate her and her skills. She is such a wonderful designer! I am an amour fan definitely!

   

2. Oopsie! said on April 15, 2011 at 12:35 pm

   

   i agree with you cheena fan!

   Siya ang pinaka down to earth na designer na nakahalubilo ko before. Alam ko na hindi niya na ako matatandaan pero Diyosa ang ugali nito!

   isa pa, gusto ko siya kasi super original niya kaya. Love it!

   

3. cheena said on July 26, 2011 at 12:39 am

   

   Just read this one now, OH my god! these words melted my heart

   You just don’t know how these kinds words inspire me to CREATE GENUINE HAPPINESS through my work of ART.

   MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT