Stylist-led US apparel brand now sold locally

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MANILA, Philippines — Stylist-turned-designer Andrea Lieberman may have launched her own apparel brand, ALC, in 2009 but her career-making turn can be traced back to 2000. For the Grammy Awards that year, she was instrumental in choosing the green, diapahanous Versace dress with the navel-grazing neckline and thigh-high slit that pop singer Jennifer Lopez wore. 

The demand to view photos of Lopez in the dress would inspire the creation of Google Images. Lieberman’s taste has since evolved which can be seen in her brand now available at Rustan's. The ready-to-wear line consists of modern silhouettes constructed with meticulous attention to detail. 

“I think it adds a modern, elevated, understated, but undeniable confidence to our current contemporary luxury assortment. It’s functional and fashionable, with a strong cross segment appeal,” said Nikki Huang, Rustan’s director of business development. 

“Part of why we wanted to bring the brand to the Philippines is to appeal to a wider audience within the store. We hope and believe that women of all ages and lifestyles will find it exciting.” 

Lieberman studied at the Parsons School of Design where she graduated with a degree in Fashion. She went on to work with designers Giorgio D’Saint Angelo and Romeo Gigli before eventually opening her retail store, Culture and Reality.

In her profile on the website of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, one reads how she work extensively in the fashion industry from styling videos or designing for tours and concerts to styling the outfits of celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson. Aside from Jennifer Lopez, her high-profile client list has included Gwen Stefani, Faith Hill and Mary J. Blige.

In an interview with Vogue last year, Lieberman advised women wanting to build a timeless wardrobe to invest in pieces that are comfortable and are proven confidence boosters. “For me, fabric and fit are paramount, which is where I start with all of our designs,” she said then. 

A long-time client of the brand, Huang is hopeful that women will check out and appreciate the brand’s “exceptional occasionwear and elevated basics.”

The mix at the store includes a range of bags from roomy totes to embellished evening clutches. 

“ALC stands out as a brand because it can really constitute an entire wardrobe for a woman. It is the brand to reach for when you want to know you’ll look good even getting dressed with your eyes closed, so to speak,” Huang said. 

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