The Philippines lost the pioneer of Philippine ready-to-wear upon the death of Larrie Silva on May 14, 2025. He was 75, retired from a most vibrant, trailblazing career in Philippine fashion retail, and spent his final months being visited by longtime friends in his home where he chose to have palliative care after a battle with cancer.
Larrie Silva (left) with his sister Lydia Castillo and RTW stalwart Rusty Lopez during the birthday celebration of Castillo some years back. Castillo, writer and popular cook book author and former marketing head of Cathay Pacific, and Lopez have passed on as well. (Photo courtesy of Larry Leviste)
Larrie Silva was the first designer in the Philippines to have a high-end ready-to-wear line in 1972. This was at Rustan’s. He was handpicked by the era’s powerful matriarch herself, Gliceria “Glecy” Tantoco, from his stint in Paris fashion. His Lady Rustan’s and subsequent brands such as Silvano became the must-have lines for generations of Filipino men and women.
Larrie Silva was the enfant terrible of Philippine fashion, who designed the first local RTW brand that eventually crossed generations. Lady Rustan’s, the clothes and accessories brand, is still around.
A devout Christian, he spent his final moments sending messages to friends and longtime associates. They were mostly of love and gratitude for a life marked with accomplishments, most of them done on the fast lane—which he enjoyed tremendously, given his gregarious character and trademark biting wit.
To me, who had covered his rise in Philippine fashion and his pioneering work in ready-to-wear, he messaged: “I thank you for your kind thought and God bless you always.” His final messages to family, friends and those who figured in his life were of gratitude, peace and contentment.
Rustan’s brought to Manila the supermodels of the era—Pat Cleveland and Anna Bayle—to walk the runway for the big gala collection of Larrie Silva
Larrie Silva gave me many exciting coverages, some of them unparalleled, such as when Rustan’s brought to Manila the supermodels of the era—Pat Cleveland and Anna Bayle—to walk the runway for the big gala collection of Larrie Silva. The event marked his many years at Rustan’s and local ready-to-wear. It was a first—Rustan’s tapping the world’s top two models for a Philippine collection.
I remember a few show-stoppers from that show: a shimmery metallic gown, in lame that draped and dropped more like liquid satin (yes, eons before Michael Cinco). It was a very simple silhouette—just thin shoulder straps, decolletage, body-sculpting shape, a train that trailed just so. Even then, Silva innovated withma silhouette that skimmed the body and allowed the body contour to deliver the drama—long before Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wore her jaw-dropping chemise wedding dress.
Larrie Silva (foreground) in 1983 magazine cover (Photo courtesy of Larry Leviste)
If Larrie Silva was able to pioneer Philippine RTW, it was because he was the master of designing and crafting the most wearable clothes, in simple, uncluttered silhouettes. The no-fuss look.
As early as the ‘70s when local fashion retail was still mainly on the drawing board, he already knew what Filipino women and men wanted—and needed—to put in their wardrobe: dresses, shirts, skirts, pants, corporate wear, weekend wear. Designers like him at that time hardly had brand or design templates to follow in the Philippines. And Silva had the self-confidence of one design talent who didn’t need brand templates to guide him.
His stint in Paris apparently groomed him for his pioneering task. He was studying fashion in Paris, and was working in the House of Balmain, when Rustan’s founder Glecy Tantoco zeroed in on him. Mrs. Tantoco had the vision, the business acumen, and the strong pulse of the market to be able to establish what would be the foremost luxury retail chain in the country. She had the vision and the gumption to start Philippine brands because she knew that would be the future.
And this 26-year-old designer who was learning the ropes in Paris was just what Mrs. Tantoco needed.
At dinner hosted by Louie Cruz (center) before the pandemic, Larrie Silva (second from right) with, from left, Mike de la Rosa, Larry Leviste (back), Louie Cruz, Thelma San Juan, Rusty Lopez (Photo courtesy of Larry Leviste)
Larrie would tell us every chance he got how he owed his career to Glecy Tantoco, and later her daughter, Nedy. Larrie Silva for Lady Rustan’s was only the start. Larrie created other Rustan brands, Silvastar, Silvano (men).
Even as he worked in RTW, Larrie was also a fashion pundit you’d love to listen to. He was one who made me laugh and think many times, even as I’d try to hush his off-the-cuff remarks.
Larrie Silva with longtime friends Susan Reyes (right) and Jaina Perez (Courtesy of Larry Leviste)
He never held back with me—talking about fashion and high society in our youngers years, and in our more mature years, talking about kindness and gratitude for all that we were privileged to go through.
When he was younger, Larrie was so candid. In later years, he was reflective, spiritual and always grateful. His 2023 message to me: “Thelma a spirit within me led me to tell you that I thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me in my career. Life is too short and there’s no promise even of tomorrow. Imagine there’s just Inno, Dom Martin and myself left among my contemporaries. Kaya bago huli ang lahat, salamat, Thelma, you’ve been so much part of my career. I will always….my respect for u!”
Some messages you just don’t delete. Some people you just don’t forget. Thank you, Larrie.
Larrie Silva (right) with longtime friends Robert Castaneda
(left) and Toots Tolentino (From FB Toots Tolentino)
