Fashion designer Ito Curata, who had worked with actress Sharon Stone and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, died of pneumonia brought about by COVID-19 yesterday. He was 60 years old.
A liberal arts graduate of the University of San Francisco, Curata was a self-taught designer, and honed his skills in the United States before working in the Philippines. It was in San Francisco where he met his husband, Robert “Bob” Miller, who also contracted COVID-19 and is currently confined at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa, where Curata passed away.
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Curata, a 30-year-veteran, was known for incorporating Filipiniana designs in his work. One of the most significant milestones in his career was when Stone wore his dress on the cover of the now-discontinued Movieline magazine. It was just last month when Curata posted photos of the magazine on his Facebook page, as well as a picture of him posing next to Stone.
Friend and colleague Joey Galon paid tribute to Curata in a Facebook post last night, where the former wrote, “He has been one of my greatest mentors pushing me to keep going with my fashion designs as he was one of the most brilliant fashion designers ever. He’s been friends with my family for over 35 years.”
“Please keep Bob and Ito’s family in your prayers. My dearest and beloved Ito, soar high now with angels!” Galon wrote.
Curata is survived by his and Miller’s son, Taj.
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