Rafe Takes on the World

Rafé ’s new campaign for the upcoming season is an all-Filipino affair, shot in Paris featuring a collaboration with designer Babette Aquino-Benoit and photographer Onin Lorente.

- Bambina Olivares Wise

I’ve always dreamt of shooting a campaign in Paris; it’s the fashion capital after all,” confesses accessories designer Rafe Totengco of the New York based label Rafé. “And I was finally able to make that dream come true!”

The City of Light, one could say, shares equal billing with Rafé’s latest campaign, which showcases his fall/winter 2017 collection. As the Bacolod-born designer explains, “It’s one of the most photogenic cities in the world. It has so many vignettes that are so iconic and evoke such a strong connection with people the world over.

“My woman is a global citizen. She’s well travelled, eclectic, and sophisticated. I wanted to celebrate her lifestyle as well as one of my favourite cities in this campaign.

“There’s a quality of light that I refer to as ‘Parisian grey’ that I felt would be perfect for my fall/winter 2017 collection. I wanted to hint at the backdrop but not be too in-your face about it.”

Onin Lorente was tapped to produce and photograph the campaign. “He’s a friend and a fabulous fashion photographer. We have been chatting over the years about a possible collaboration. I told him I was going to be in Paris for Fashion Week to show my collection and was hoping to do a shoot while I was there; but I was a little apprehensive about coordinating it all while I was also selling my collection. Coincidentally, he was also scheduled to be in Paris so we decided to make a go for it.”

Totengco says that he has been a longtime admirer of Babette Aquino-Benoit, the chic Paris-based designer and businesswoman who lent him pieces from her own collection and wardrobe for the shoot.