Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: Furne One – Trailblazer

FURNE ONE

Fashion Designer

Head over to the fabulous Dubai Design District and you will be pleased to note that one of the most prominent fashion spaces is owned and headed by a Filipino – the “One and Only” Furne One, he of the Dubai fashion rock star stature, whose dramatic haute couture extravaganzas are the hottest tickets come fashion season in the city of bling.

From being a Fine Arts student, to winning a fashion design competition in the Philippines, to becoming a mentee of Josie Natori, to having his own haute couture brand worn by international A-list celebrities, and receiving numerous awards, Furne One has steadily built his haute couture career with exacting precision, dogged determination and pure discipline.  He offers advice to would-be designers, “A lot of young designers think that the fashion industry is just about pretty dresses, fabulous parties and being famous. They often forget about the responsibilities that go along with it. The truth is, it’s all about having a clear vision of your aesthetic, good business acumen, hard work and perseverance”.

With his diligence paying off in aces, Furne continues to grow his renowned brand Amato Couture, opening two new spaces at the Dubai Design District this year, while officially launching his pret-a-porter line to provide a more accessible fashion collection for the younger sartorially savvy audience. 

He adds, “You need to focus on your goal, work hard and persevere. The only person you have to prove yourself to, is yourself.

Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.