It’s been well over a month since Laureen Uy and Miggy Cruz exchanged vows in a spectacular beachfront ceremony in Coron, Palawan. Beyond the star-studded guest list and the breathtaking views, their wedding was a heartfelt celebration of their journey together, reflective of the couple’s vibrant personalities in every facet of the event.
Central to any wedding is the choice of attire, and while Laureen dazzled in a Vivienne Westwood ensemble, equal attention was drawn to Miggy's thoughtfully designed barong. Designed by RJ Santos of Randolf Clothing, this bespoke piece artfully depicts a roadmap of the couple's travels that ultimately culminate in their wedding day—a fitting nod to their destination wedding ceremony. It’s a piece that will definitely become a sentimental keepsake in the years to come, a sartorial artifact of the couple’s blissful love story.
LOOK: Miggy Cruz Wears a Custom Randolf Clothing Barong to His Wedding with Laureen Uy
In this Preview exclusive, designer RJ Santos walks us through the process behind this custom barong. He shares insights into the collaborative process, crafting techniques, as well as his own design ethos.
Preview Exclusive: RJ Santos of Randolf Clothing on Miggy Cruz’s Custom Wedding Day Barong
Hi RJ! We loved the barong you made for Miggy Cruz’s wedding. Could you tell us about the design that the groom requested for?
"Thank you! When Miggy came to the studio, I just let him talk to me about anything really [laughs]. He eventually told me about his and Laureen’s love for traveling. I cannot remember exactly how we arrived there, but when he started talking about their travels, we started to form the concept for his barong."
How did you bring Miggy’s concept to life? What was the collaboration process like?
"We were just talking about their love for travel and we eventually came up with this concept. I suggested for the barong to have an all-over print where there will be a map of the cities they visited with a trail leading up to their wedding destination. On top of the map are elements that they love in those cities. We played with texture by mixing three different shades of brown."
How does this custom barong align with your own design ethos?
"I’ve always believed that clothes should be about the wearer first. It should make them feel good and confident. Randolf is also about having fun and not being too serious, and I think this concept has a little humor to it that makes it really Randolf."
What methods or crafting techniques did you use to construct this barong? How long did it take to complete this piece in particular?
"It took us a few weeks to make the barong. We used hand-guided embroidery for the barong and layered three shades of threads to create texture and to highlight some elements."
As a designer, what message did you wish to convey through this custom wedding barong?
"To have fun with it! It doesn’t have to make sense to anybody but you."
Can you share a fun fact about the making of this barong?
"It took me weeks to finalize the design because I kept revising it haha. I would sleep on it and the next day I would decide to redo it lol that’s why it took so long for me to send the final draft to Miggy."
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