MICH_DULCE

Michelle is based in Manila, Philippines. She studied at Central Saint Martins; London College of Fashion; FIT NY. Her collections are produced in Philippines.

Born in 1981, designer and milliner Mich Dulce has a distinct aesthetic – a sense of the sublime coupled generously with exuberant experimentation. Having studied extensively at some of the world’s best fashion schools like Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, as well as interning with Marjan Pejoski, Jessica Ogden and Susan Cianciolo, she launched her eponymous label in 2001 and has since evolved from her voluminous, textured and hand treated garments to a more mature sensibility without losing her trademark quirks and offbeat draping. Her inimitable style and innovative couture has earned her a steady and influential presence in the Philippine fashion industry. In 2002, Mich was a finalist for the Paris Young Designer’s Competition and 1st runner up in the MEGA Young Designer’s Competition. In 2004 she was nominated for Revolutionary Designer of the Year at the MTV Style Awards, and in 2007 she won the Fashion Designer of the Year Award for Streetwear at the MEGA Fashion Awards.
Since studying the art of hat making in 2005, she has unleashed a flurry of delightful headpieces onto Manila’s runways. Each of her hats are handmade, exquisitely molded and always with a whimsical touch that makes it distinctly her own, whether it’s her geometric experimentation, her unusually sculpted fabric, or her unconventional use of materials. In 2009, Mich expanded her skill set by studying the art of Period Corsetry to complement her entry into the bridal market in the same year.
In February 2010 Mich won the International Young Creative Entrepreneur Award for Fashion at London Fashion Week from the British Council for her millinery collection besting finalists from Bangladesh, India, Libya, Lithuania, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria and Turkey. Mich’s winning proposal, which sets out to connect British designers with Philippine textile manufacturers to develop new materials and hat designs, stood out for its understanding of both creative talent and the market. Mich hopes that by involving the manufacturers in the creative process, new skills will be developed and sustainable jobs created.
Currently the Mich Dulce label is available internationally through the online store Not Just A Label, as well as through stockists in Manila, Tokyo and London. She continues to do bespoke clothing, hats and corsets.