Singer Joy Villa made a splash on the Grammys red carpet wearing a custom “Make America Great Again” dress designed by Andre Soriano. But the designer says he was the one making the statement.
The San Diego-based luxury clothing designer is an openly gay, legal immigrant from the Philippines who supported Trump during the election.
He told the Hollywood Reporter that he created the pro-Trump gown not as a political statement but as a message of “positivity” after watching Madonna deliver what he considered a divisive speech at the Women’s March on Washington.
“We all live on this planet. I’ve never been in the political arena. However, it’s just so crazy that people are getting beat up because they voted for Trump, or this and that, someone wants to bomb the White House,” Soriano said. “I am an American, I moved here from the Philippines, and I highly believed in the trueness of what this country can bring. It’s about bringing people together, that’s the message.”
Villa, who is a muse for Soriano (he created her now-infamous “construction” dress from 2015’s awards, as well), has already seen a bump from her Grammys appearance. Sales of her album, “I Make the Static,” skyrocketed and the singer climbed to the top of both the Amazon and iTunes charts overnight.
When she approached Soriano to make her dress for the Grammy awards, he immediately suggested the Trump campaign sign as inspiration. “I’m like, ‘Joy, we have to make a statement on what is right for our country, of what we believe in, for the Constitution,”‘ he told media.
She agreed, reportedly telling the designer that you can “either stand for what you believe in or fall for what you don’t.”
Soriano, who sells his fashions online, says that his website has been flooded with orders and requests. His gowns retail for around $2,000. His ready-to-wear clothing line has pieces averaging around $100.
Before now, the designer had dressed Macy Gray, Courtney Love and Bai Ling for similar events, and appeared on the reality show Styled to Rock, hosted by Rihanna.
