Romel (RC) Caylan
Fashion Designer
RC Caylan is a Filipino-American fashion designer and owner of RC Caylan Atelier, a haute couture studio in Grand Rapids, MI. Originally from the Philippines, he previously studied accounting and worked on a cruise ship before becoming a designer. Now, his designs frequently appear on the red carpet, donned by Hollywood stars including Carrie Underwood and Rick Springfield. RC’s designs have been featured in Glamour, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Marie Claire.
This interview was edited for length & clarity. It took place on March 7th, 2025. ​
Credit: M Buck Studio
Q: Tell me about your journey to becoming a fashion designer.
RC: Both my mom and grandma were seamstresses. Since I was 9 years old, I wanted to be a fashion designer. But growing up in the Philippines, that’s not something my Asian parents wanted me to do — it’s a tough industry.
So I studied accounting. Post-grad, I was working as an accountant when I heard of a job working on a cruise ship spa. It was the opportunity of a lifetime: to travel the world for free. That’s when I decided to change my life. I got a cosmetology degree and worked on a cruise. There, I met my husband who’s originally from Detroit. We got married and I moved to Michigan with him.
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Once I was in the U.S., I didn’t know what to do. I decided to pursue my dream of being a fashion designer. I went back to school and studied fashion design at Grand Rapids Community College. During design school, I interned with a famous Filipino designer I’d previously connected with in the Philippines who just opened up a label in L.A. Working for him in L.A., I learned how to connect with people in Hollywood.
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I met another Filipino-American designer who invited me to do a show for the San Francisco Fashion Bay network, a collaboration of 34 international designers. I was showcasing with designers who had dressed Lady Gaga and Beyonce although I made my collection out of my kitchen. That show was the beginning of everything. From there, I kept doing shows: from NYFW to Milan. A year after graduating, I opened my own brand in Grand Rapids. Since then, I’ve dressed stars across Hollywood, from A-listers to D-listers.
Q: Coming from an untraditional background, what kept you going in your career?
RC: I don’t really believe in stereotypes. I like to break the stereotype of how the audience would like to see me. It doesn’t matter to me where you’re coming from or what school you went to. At the end of the day, it’s about how talented you are and how much determination you have.
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You also need to be able to connect. I’ve seen so many talented fashion designers who are so confident upon graduating school, but end up lost because they don’t know how to connect with people in the industry. Everyone can be a great designer. But if you don't know the flow of business in fashion, you get lost. I was one of those lucky people who was able to penetrate the Hollywood industry which is really cutthroat.
Even though I came from the Philippines, from accounting, from community college, I followed my dream and made it happen. You always hear people tell you there’s light at the end of the tunnel. But I don’t believe that. If it’s dark, it’s up to you to be the person to light up the tunnel.
" I don't believe in stereotypes ... Even though I came from the Philippines, from accounting, from community college, I followed my dream and made it happen."
RC Caylan Atelier's "Les Fleurs" SS2025 Collection
Credit: Dimitry Loiseau
RC Caylan's Floral Jacquard Dress in Harper's Bazaar
Credit: Reinhardt Kenneth
RC Caylan's Gold Silk Jacquard Embellished Crop Top with Ball Skirt
in Glamour Bulgaria
Credit: Reinhardt Kenneth
Q: What's your creative process like?
RC: Creating a collection is very tedious. There’s a lot of hand sewing. At my atelier, I only have 5 team members. Yet we’re able to pull off a 50-piece collection.
I always find my inspiration after fashion week. I like to see fashion week first and make sure I’m not creating something that’s already been done. After that, I put it all in my head. I’m able to see the whole collection before I start sketching. I make sure I can source the right fabric before I start sketching. Sketching will take me just a week and then I can have 25 looks.
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Then there's the process of creating the looks. My philosophy is that good execution is far better than design. You can sketch the most beautiful design but if you don’t have the right technique to apply that, then you’re lost.
A sketch by RC Caylan
Q: What does success mean to you?
RC: To me, success is never measured by accolades. Success is about making my clients happy. When I get a good review or see a bride light up when she sees her custom wedding dress — that’s true success for me.
Q: From accounting to cosmetology to fashion design, what's been the most surprising part of being a fashion designer?
RC: One thing people might not expect is that the biggest struggle is not about being a designer. It’s the business side of it. The technique of haute couture is very labor intensive rather than mass-produced. It’s all about execution. You could be wearing the most blinged-out dress but if the sewing is out of place, then it’s not haute couture. Compared to what you see in big box stores, haute couture is art.
I’m constantly competing with bigger, more established luxury brands. At the same time, with my business being based in Grand Rapids, when locals see my price point, they can’t always support me. It can be a struggle, but I don’t give up.
Q: How did your family react to you switching careers to be a fashion designer?
RC: My mom was very supportive. She’s always been my biggest cheerleader. She’s such an inspiration to me. My mom is a single mother, she raised 5 of us children — I’m the youngest. She always told me: "Do whatever you want. Follow your dream. Life is complicated enough."
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Amidst all the challenges of the industry, from making it to competing with bigger luxury brands, you need a family like that that will always support you and cheer you on no matter how stressed you are.
Q: Why did you choose to stay in Michigan?
RC: I’m the kind of person that likes to break barriers. My philosophy is: Why go over there when everyone’s doing the same thing? I’m the only one over here. I get to be a pioneer. I want to create this environment in Grand Rapids to show others that you can make it here too.
Q: What's your advice for aspiring designers?
RC: Always believe in yourself no matter how hard it is. The only thing we can control is what we put in our minds. Life is already complicated enough. Don’t complicate things.
People are like ”I don’t know how to do this,” but there’s always an answer for everything. Nowadays, we have so many tools online. Utilize that. Keep growing. Don’t stop learning. I always read about the latest fashion trends.
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If you feel like you’re drowning, take a step back, breathe, and when you have peace of mind, make the next step. If you’re still struggling, then you have to reevaluate if this is the right world for you.
RC Caylan Atelier's dress on Carrie Underwood
Credit: Jason Kempin