BY IRVIN RIVERA

“Rocky is dead.”

That was the first text message that greeted me the morning I got the news. My first instinct was to check facebook. We have several common friends there. I went to Rocky’s profile page and saw people already leaving their condolences and digital send-offs. Shit. This is too early to process. Why do death alerts come to me early in the morning? (I got the message about my grandma’s death a few years back early in the morning as well)

For the most part, I distance myself from facebook but in its core, it is still a tool to communicate and it does wonders when it works. By following the digital trail of people on Rocky’s facebook feed, I found the profile of one of his friends who found his body. He was posting messages asking for immediate help. “Emergency. Please help me…” says the facebook post of Rocky’s fashion stylist friend Vhee Co. They found Rocky’s body lying on his restroom floor, lifeless.

Rocky Gathercole is one of the most down to earth human beings that I have ever met. From what I remember, his usual attire when attending his fashion shows is a simple Marvel T-shirt featuring an ensemble of Marvel characters paired with either cargo pants or shorts. I was with him on one of his shows in Beverly Hills when they refused to let him in because of the way he looks. It’s ridiculous to think how we all had to fight our way in and remind the bouncer that Rocky is the designer and that he is the actual star of the fashion show.

Rocky’s unassuming demeanor and humility provides a stark contrast from the sparkles of his elaborate avant-garde fashion designs. Reminiscent of the late Alexander McQueen, with the whimsical touches of Galliano, Dior and other huge global fashion houses, Rocky’s portfolio of fashion designs are undeniably works of art. He makes wearable art pieces as opposed to ready-to-wear clothing. The intricate beadwork, the complex construction, the odd shapes, and the harmonious fusion of the various elements of hardness, softness, fantasy, darkness, sex, and storytelling make his pieces easily stand out. It’s no wonder global stars like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Paris Hilton, Tyra Banks, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Cardi B., and more got attracted to his clothes.

When I first saw his clothes posted on facebook back in 2012, I wasted no time. I added him and messaged him telling how I admire his clothes and also asked if I could photograph them. I was very green back then with barely a portfolio of fashion photos to show. I had my sister and some of her friends in my website but he still said yes to my proposal. That started our years of friendship and collaboration.

I feel like my mourning process has evolved throughout the years of experiencing deaths in the family and around my circle of friends. I don’t remember ever crying that much. I feel like I find alternative ways to be at peace with the situation as I summon moments of laughter and happiness I spent with the person.

I spent my day scrolling through my facebook messenger conversations with Rocky throughout our years of friendship. That was our primary source of communication as he was mainly based in Manila and I reside in Los Angeles. Scrolling throughout our messages reminded me of how fun he was. His deep-rooted Filipino sense of humor never fails to crack me up. I saw one of our conversations from 2013 when Rocky is musing about how he wanted to work with Paris Hilton. I said he could definitely dress her. And he absolutely did. He was also kind enough to give the compliment back to me and said that I will photograph her. Well, I did, only a few years later.

Going through our messenger chatroom was a trip; it was a timeline of our dreams and aspirations, a placeholder of our achievements (he would message me whenever he books a fashion show, or whenever he just finished a new collection that he wanted me to shoot), a reminder of how fun, and full of personality this seemingly introverted, humble, designer is.

Rocky’s journey in life was “rocky” to say the least. His story was actually dramatized in the Philippine TV show “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (Will You Remember?) where they did a retrospective narration of Rocky’s life from his childhood when he ran away from his abusive father, to eventually finding his mom and being turned away, to roaming around the streets of Manila with pretty much nothing, to eventually rising up to the challenges and using his love for sketching and emerging as one of the contemporary designers who would be dressing up global pop stars and staging fashion shows everywhere.

Rocky’s success enabled him to team up with charitable organizations to help homeless children in need. He is just generous at heart. Despite his sarcastic humor, he makes you feel at ease. His generous energy is undeniable wherever he goes. He helped me create some of my favorite images in my photography portfolio and I will always be grateful for that. Our photo with the iconic chess piece dress was exhibited in Milan and Tokyo via Vogue.

Thank you, Rocky. You’ve helped and inspired so many people in your lifetime.   

People remember you on how you make them feel. Rocky inspired and challenged me in so many levels and I will forever remember him that way. Rocky will always have a place in my heart rent-free. I have no doubt his legacy will live on beyond the seams and the complex threading of his dresses. The world would catch-up eventually.