For Eric Raisina, finding the perfect shape in his designs means telling a story. And wow, what stories he tells with each creation! With his passion for fabrics and devotion to colors and textures, every piece he designs comes out as a unique and mesmerizing tale.

It is only fitting, therefore, for Eric to consider Cambodia as a home for over a decade now. The country’s rich culture and history serves as the perfect backdrop for Eric’s amazing collections.

Playing with color and texture

Eric admits that of all the facets of design, colors would probably be his favorite. “Colors make me happy and make me dream of faraway places”, he says.

His love for colors is evident in every piece. The amazing thing about it is that they are never overwhelming nor overblown. Eric finds just the right balance that keeps things interesting without being too flashy for the audiences.

This does not mean that Eric cannot work with neutrals or your usual black and white ensembles. When it comes to more subdued tones and hues, his pieces stay as relevant and as interesting as ever because of his devotion to textures.

He loves playing around with natural fibers not just because of their organic flexibility, but because of their beautiful textures as well. These textures become a powerful booster to the already beautiful flow that can be seen in Eric’s designs.

These textures are actually key to the different layers that you have to go through as you appreciate an Eric Raisina creation.

From a distance, you see the first layer of his design – a quiet elegance that naturally complements the human figure. As you get closer, you’ll start to appreciate the bits and pieces that make his design whole. Every ruffle, every shearing, every piece of lace or accessory – they all add to the twists and turns of an epic tale being told.

Inspired by the world

To truly understand what the audience sees in Eric’s creations, it is important to know what he has seen through his eyes.

Eric was born in Madagascar, a land of amazing landscapes, beautiful beaches, tasteful cuisine and flourishing nature and wildlife. Growing up in this setting has given Eric a unique insight as to what beauty looks like. To this day, he admits that Madagascar’s natural beauty remains his biggest inspiration.

Winning the New Young Designer of the Year award at the Fashion Festival and Textile Competition in Madagascar in the early 90’s opened up the opportunity for him to study textile design in Paris. He eventually worked with Christian Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent, creating textiles that they would use for their designs.

When he heard how beautiful Cambodian silk is, he flew to Cambodia straightaway and fell in love with Siem Reap. That sealed his decision to eventually live in the country in 2001. Since then, he has not lost his desire to keep designing.

He is now a true ambassador of the amazing things that come from Cambodia. As he continues to be inspired by the temples and the culture, he helps the world discover that there is so much more to Cambodia than meets the eye.

Visit Eric Raisina Haute Texture at The Aviary Square every day from 9AM to 9PM.