Always one to have a vivid imagination,
Crispin & Basilio designer Donny Barrios named the collection after two fictional characters from a 19th century Filipino novel, paying homage to his roots. Having grown up in Manila, Donny Barrios studied at FIT in New York, then worked at J. Crew, followed by a stint at a Los Angeles-based contemporary label. It wasn't until 2006 that Donny Barrios transformed his fancy with women's fashion into a reality with the launch of
Crispin & Basilio.
"Designing women's clothing was spurred by my curiosity of its scope," states Donny Barrios. "The options available and the different choices made are of a different intricacy [than menswear]." Beautiful and thoughtful, the collection features a stunning lineup of dresses, tops, pants and outerwear such as the
Draped Mini Trench and
Zip Sleeve Tee that are both sophisticated and architectural. Donny Barrios' expert eye for how each piece's luxurious fabric drapes across the body ensures that every style is a masterpiece. This clever take on women's style has won Donny Barrios accolades from Elle, WWD, and Nylon as a designer to watch. Accolades or not, though, the
Crispin & Basilio collection speaks for itself.
