Alcazar Hailidani Samindih, a Filipino fashion designer, is becoming increasingly popular and successful in the Eastern Province fashion industry. His achievements are recognized in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Region. The popular Doha-based Filipino magazine, Simply Pinoy, selected him as one of the top Filipino designers in the Middle East along with his mentor, Celso Collado Dahil, another top fashion designer in the region. Alcazar is an in-house designer of one of the leading fashion houses in Al-Khobar City with a growing clientele of Saudi and expatriate ladies. As head designer of the Jathaba Haute Couture Fashion House, he deals directly with clients by presenting designs for wedding dresses, his specialty, party dresses, and formal and casual dresses. He also supervises a team of cutters, sewers, and beaders. He is also the quality control manager. Alcazar's entry into the world of fashion has been his dream. “I am a medical technology graduate and worked as a medical technologist in a hospital in Jolo, Sulu in Mindanao for two years. Unfortunately, I did not find satisfaction in the medical profession. My dream has always been the world of fashion,” he said. Alcazar asked his brother to support him in his fashion design studies at the famous Cora Doloroso Fashion School in Manila and at EARN School where, at both institutions, he won awards in various student competitions. After graduating from the schools, he decided to work in the Kingdom and landed a job as a fashion designer. “It was difficult starting a career in a highly competitive field of fashion designing in this country, clients are demanding and rivalry among fashion houses is very stiff,” Alcazar said of his initial experience in Saudi Arabia working as a fashion designer. “I had ups and downs, and employers expected a lot from me,” he said. Through the years, Alcazar's popularity has grown. He gained more contacts and connections. He is now a member of the two leading organizations in the Eastern Province supporting fashion designers – the Society of Filipino Fashion Designers (SFFD) and the Organization of Brilliant and Respected Artists (OBRA). Alcazar is now reaping success in his career as fashion designer. He was the first Filipino fashion designer in Saudi Arabia to have a full length pictorial of his collection by leading Filipino photographers, including Cyril Dadiz, Jose Reynaldo, Mile Dar Santos, Bernie Bulan, Venz Mula and Dominic Bautista. “I am also very lucky to have the support of Ramil Tolentino, president of SFFD and my trainer, and Ms. Alelie Macaumbang Andi, my superstar model, best friend and adviser,” Alcazar said. More opportunities are opening up for Alcazar. On June 22, a fashion show conducted at Saudi Aramco featured his collections. One of his creations was among those presented in the finale and modeled by Kristen Joy R. Vega. Alcazar has advice for up-and-coming fashion designers who are presently struggling to make their mark in the highly competitive world of fashion designing. “A designer ought to know how to make the customer beautiful and have the foresight to know what is right and wrong to wear; he must supervise the making of the dress from cutting to sewing, putting on the beads, until the fitting of the dress, and until it is ready to be worn by the customer.” On top of this, a designer must be constantly up-to-date with the latest fashion trends. Alcazar has certainly made a successful journey from a medical technologist to the glamorous world of fashion. “I am looking forward to learn more, and I am humbled by my achievements.” __
