Auggie Cordero, one of the Philippines’ most renowned designers and couturiers that put the country on the fashion radar, has passed away last Monday, October 24. Confirming the devastating news were his close friends, fellow designers, and mentees who shared heartfelt messages to the late couturier on their social media pages.
Auggie Cordero and His Legacy
Auggie is best known for dressing Manila's society and reinventing the Barong Tagalog. However, before becoming one of the industry's most legendary designers, he had humble beginnings. In the 1970s, the couturier began with a small atelier in Malate, Manila, with mostly students from nearby schools as clients. He quickly rose to prominence after catching the attention of late philanthropist and socialite Chito Madrigal and other bigwigs in Philippine society, who allowed him to show his collections at exclusive fashion shows attended by Manila's elite.
It was through these shows that he established a reputation as a talented designer, which allowed him to feature his work in fashion shows and magazines all over the world. Auggie lived briefly in New York City during the 1970s after being granted an immigrant's card, where he apprenticed under Oscar de la Renta. Even though he was in the Big Apple, the designer continued to run his business in Manila and would alternate between the two cities for work.
One of Auggie's most notable works has to be his transformation of the Barong Tagalog to attract more non-Filipino wearers. Traditionally worn by men on formal occasions, the designer had his more casual creations modeled by women in his advertising campaigns. He modernized the barong by adding front openings and rolled sleeves while retaining traditional elements like hand-embroidered details and translucent fabrics.
The exact cause of death of the couturier hasn’t been disclosed yet by any close friends or family members.
May you rest in piece, Auggie.
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