Pia Wurtzbach's blue gown now worth over P1 M, says designer

The royal blue evening gown worn by Filipino beauty queen Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach when she won Miss Universe 2015 is shaping up to be a collectors' item.

Popular Filipino designer Albert Andrada says that three persons have offered him to buy Pia's blue gown for more than P1 million.

"Without the Miss Universe title, it was roughly P180,000-P200,000. But with the Miss Universe title already, it shoots up to more than P1 million. I'm saying this because somebody offered to buy it and the (national) costume as well," says Andrada, during an exclusive interview in Tagaytay City recently.

Andrada says that three Filipinos have offered to buy Pia's gown displayed at his shop in Makati City. He did not identify them.

"There were three offers but I declined it. They just emailed me and they wanted to buy it. They are Filipino-Chinese. I regret that I can't sell it because it's part of my life already. It's part of my journey as a fashion designer," says the popular fashion designer.

Andrada says creating a winning gown like Pia's has been a game changer for him because he got more clients.

"Everybody then wants to be Pia (Wurtzbach)," he says. What he meant was they want to be stunning as Pia. "They know that I cannot make replica of the gown although some requested if they can have the same design. I declined."

But Andrada says that he is flattered that many designers have copied the blue gown.

"To my surprise, ang dami ring gumaya. It's so flattering because for me, I wouldn't be offended if they copy it because for them it's celebrating the triumph of Pia as Miss Universe. So that's the closest that they can have," he adds.

Andrada says that he still creates gowns for the Filipino-German beauty queen. "Oh yes! Occasionally if she needs something I would make a gown for her."

Asked if he would still dress up other beauty queens aside from Pia, Andrada says: "Yes! But it depends! Because I don't want to have a comparison between Pia's gown and the other queens. If it's not for a competition, I would. But if it's for competition, I don't think I can."

When asked how he would dress up reigning Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray if given the chance, Andrada says he couldn't tell because he hasn't talked to the beauty queen.

"If I would dress up Catriona Gray, I have to talk to her deeply. That's what I did for Pia. There has to be a story line. So right now, I cannot answer you like what color because I still have to talk to her deeply because that's what I do with my other clients. There's always a consultation first so that I would know their personality and feel who they are before I make a dress," he adds.

Pia was crowned at the 64th Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20, 2015. She is the third Miss Universe from the Philippines. - ROBERT REQUINTINA