Meet the Fil-Brit fashion designer at the helm of Alber Elbaz’s French legacy brand AZ Factory
Photos from normanrenedevera/Instagram
Norman René Devera, a London-born Filipino fashion designer, is the design director for ready-to-wear and accessories at the late Israeli designer Alber Elbaz’s legacy brand AZ Factory.
Founded in 2020, the high-end label has been known to enlist guest designers (“Amigos” as they call them) to produce collaborative collections with the studio. But for its Spring 2024 collection that hits the runways of Paris in October, in-house talents Devera and Slovenian-born Peter Movrin will be taking charge.
Who is Norman René Devera?
Born and raised in London, Devera went to the London College of Fashion. On weekends, he would party at the city’s underground scene at Boombox, a hangout of choice for some of fashion’s most revered names, including British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful. This, he said, exposed him to the gritty and creative side of the city.
Even as a child, Devera already had a knack for design. He would draw his mother and other women wearing pinafores.
He had his start in the industry at Vivienne Westwood. Then in 2009, he interned for Phoebe Philo at Celine, where he honed his 3D design skills, which became one of the hallmarks of Philo’s sought-after creations.
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Renowned for his draping, he then worked for Lanvin where he met Elbaz before being recruited at Louis Vuitton. After two years, he moved to New York and joined Raf Simons during his stint at Calvin Klein. Devera returned to Europe in 2019, joining Versace in Milan.
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At AZ Factory, Devera designed the bespoke faux leather gown with a built-in corset that best supporting actress nominee Dolly de Leon wore to the Golden Globe Awards earlier this year.
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An Ilocano by lineage, Devera says the Filipino instinct to always make your mother and country proud is always with him. In an interview, he said, “For me, it’s very much realizing that we [may] be from a tiny island, but the waves we Filipinos are making [are monumental].
