Amir Sali crafted intricate gowns for Saudi Arabia’s royal family. After nearly two decades abroad, he has returned to the Philippines, continuing to make his mark as the “Prince of Beads.”
Hailing from Tawi-Tawi, Amir said that art has been ingrained in him since childhood. His interest was so strong that he learned how to draw even before he learned how to write.
“I learned how to draw before I learned the ABCs. Art was really in my system, in my veins,” he told PhilSTAR L!fe.
Although his father wanted him to become a lawyer, Amir ultimately chose to pursue his passion for the arts. At the time, he shared, no institutions offered a four-year degree in fashion design, prompting him to major in interior design instead.
During one of his travels abroad, Amir met a woman he did not initially realize was a Saudi princess. He was later invited to work for the royal family, where he spent 18 years honing his craft.
Working with the royal family
Amir dreamed of working in New York, Paris, or London, but at 23, he landed a job in the Saudi Arabian Royal family, where he was first commissioned to create curtains in the Palace.
“When they offered me to work in Saudi Arabia, parang natakot ako. Sabi ko, it’s not my dream to work there,” he shared with L!fe. He seized the opportunity when he was offered a scholarship to study in Paris, on the condition that he would work for them afterward.
From sourcing premium materials worldwide to crafting diverse designs, Amir admitted that his time at the palace was challenging—but he enjoyed it so much that his initial five-year stint extended to 18 years, with each day described as a learning experience.
Johan M.I.A Photographie via @iamamirsali / Instagram
“It was not easy to make beautiful clothes because you cannot repeat your work for 18 years. So you have to really study very well every single design you make. Hindi siya joke,” he said.
“I’ve learned so many things; It was very challenging but very promising for an artist like me coming from the South,” he recalled. “Hindi ko na notice that I’ve been doing so many beautiful things because parang I just took it like I’m playing, na this is my wonderland.”
Amir attended royal family parties around the world. It also opened doors for him to dress international celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Beyoncé, Shakira, and Halle Berry.
‘Prince of Beads’
If there’s one thing to remember about Amir, it’s his intricate beadwork in every creation. As a Mindanaoan artist, he was exposed to all things decorated back home in the Philippines.
“I love beadwork so much,” he began.
“I grew up with the community that is wearing clothes that are very ornate and decorated because people from the south, the Muslims in the south, they are laging nasa festive mood…’yung mga damit, very colorful, metallic, and gold decorated.”
Even before he formally studied interior design, Amir shared that he had been designing clothes for his friends, classmates, and family. Other than their traditional clothing, Amir initially took inspiration from marine life, being so amazed by the vibrant colors he saw whenever he was scuba diving.
His signature decorated style is reflected in his early creations, from curtains to furniture.
After his father passed away, Amir returned to the Philippines and considered retiring at 43, but his mother encouraged him to keep going
“I don’t see myself working abroad forever. Kung saan ka pinanganak, doon ka pagpapalain,” he said.
He later opened his first shop in the Philippines and served clients, including local celebrities and brides-to-be.
Among these is Ayesha Alonto Mambuay, a Maranao and a UP alumna. She learned about Amir when he was recommended by her aunt, who met him at one of his fashion shows.
“He’s very talented, such a visionary, and has the most extraordinary stories to share. A typical fitting with my Mom, my sister, and myself would last for about three to four hours as we laugh out loud and talk about everything and anything,” Ayesha told L!fe. “We all have dreams to uplift the lives of fellow Moros, but we also have common enjoyable stories of Moro struggles.”
Her wedding gown’s design was inspired by the sarimanok, a Maranao symbol of honor and harmony, Ayesha said, noting that Amir had drawn from this emblem. For her, wearing it was deeply personal.
“Wearing it was my way of honoring where I come from while also celebrating the future we are building together. It wasn’t about grandeur, it was about meaning, roots, and intention on our end,” Ayesha said.
A good artist will not only come from Metro Manila or from New York or from Paris. A good artist can come from a small island, from a small town, from a small province, because art is an innate thing, it’s s a gift from God
Keeping the art of beading alive
Amir is undeniably a renowned artist, having worked with Saudi royalty and A-listers both in the Philippines and abroad. Beyond this, Amir ensures his art reaches people from all walks of life. He shared that, in addition to dressing Ayesha, he has also gifted designer gowns to many brides-to-be who cannot afford one.
Now based in the Philippines, he is providing job opportunities for people, especially males from underprivileged backgrounds. It also serves as his way of keeping the art of beadwork alive for future generations.
“Ang mga beaders kasi natin dito, mostly mga manang…So now I’m training mga lalaki na wala namang ginagawa to learn how to do beading,” Amir said. They also trained those who previously worked as fishermen, construction workers, and bakery staff.
“We give livelihood to people to bring food to their table…I think we don’t exist for ourselves alone; We should always help other people,” he said.
Other than this, he’s providing scholarships to young creatives who cannot afford to go to school.
“I help them with their education para marami pang artist na Filipino ang mag excel,” he said.
“I also like [them] not to be ashamed na mahirap ka, na you can you can have your own spotlight as well,” he said.
“Wag kayong mahiya, kasi a good artist will not only come from Metro Manila or from New York or from Paris. A good artist can come from a small island, from a small town, from a small province, because art is an innate thing, it’s s a gift from God,” he said.
Amir continues to thrive in the world of fashion. At 60, he’s still passionate about creating more and helping more.
“It’s very important to put your heart into anything that you do, because when you put love, excellence will come. You can never go wrong when you love what you’re doing,” he told L!fe.
“Hindi pwede as an artist ka lang makontento ka nalang sa alam mo araw-araw. Ang dami pang dapat matutunan. These kinds of experiences will make you humble because you know that you are not great,” he said. He also encouraged artists not to let failures hold them back.
“Keep on trying, failure is not defeat unless you stop trying, so you have to go on with it and enjoy. God permitted us to make mistakes,” he said.
This year, he is set to attend some of the industry’s most prestigious events, including fashion weeks in Paris and Milan, as well as the Melbourne Fashion Festival in March, where he previously made history as the first Filipino designer to take the stage.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.philstarlife.com ’
