Carla Bianca V. Ravanes
Carla Bianca V. Ravanes
FASHION, admittedly, is not one of my strongest suits. My mornings often consist of bargaining with my alarm clock, a few lazy jumping jacks, and a mad dash out of the house at 6 a.m. to avoid south of Manila traffic. Because of this, I don’t get to spend much time to scan my closet for my “outfit of the day.”
For this reason, effortless fashionistas have always inspired me. How they look so put together day in and day out.
One such lady I consider to be very stylish is Kaye Pernia. A friend of a friend’s, Kaye and I first met in 2009 at a popular bazaar down south. From the get go, Kaye exuded the mysterious confidence and
sophistication that only very few people can exude.
With degrees in Basic Fashion and Fashion Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of the Philippines and De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, it is not a surprise that young Kaye earned a spot in Pormada, an online retail store run by such fashion plates as Sara Meier, Kelly Misa, and Brent Javier among others.
Pormada’s tagline—“one of the flame-starters in Philippine online retail”—puts the fun in online shopping. Bringing in niche brands from all over the world and even budding independent Filipino brands, Pormada is slowly creating a wave in the fashion industry that was previously not seen before.
Described as Pormada’s “golden child,” Kaye has taken on the role of marketing and merchandising manager solely in charge of ensuring product availability on the website; checking of quality and workmanship; and even maintaining ties with the different brands under their company.
Asked what it’s like to work in such a high profile industry, Kaye was quick to say, “I am surrounded by positive and passionate people. My bosses motivate me to be a better version of myself, and also working for a start up is fun because you can be vocal. We have a mind mapping meeting every week where we share ideas, views, and suggestions. It’s one of my favorite things to do at work.”
She also adds that her job entails meeting a lot of people. “I get to meet clients who eventually turn into friends and their passion is infectious as well and I’m easily inspired by them.”
This passion soon translated into the Go Global, Wear Lokal campaign that aims to strengthen support for local independent brands. “I was inspired by stories of these homegrown brands and I think they deserve to be known in their own country and be recognized globally.”
Kaye’s campaign is simple. “By using the hashtag #GoGlobalWearLokal on their #OOTD posts, local brands can easily be recognized.” Her personal efforts were solidified by
the support of her Pormada team, who is also “
committed to finding distinct homegrown Filipino brands and growing them on their website.”
She further pointed out that dressing up stylishly is not as difficult or time consuming as it sounds. “It’s really about having your own personal style that’s defined by your own personality. Find what works for you and make sure you’re comfortable.” She added that investing in the basics and styling them with accessories such as scarves and bags make a big difference.
For her, fashion is more than just looking good on the outside but also feeling good about one’s self worth. “A bad day can easily be turned around by a good outfit. It empowers.”
The post When fashion meets passion appeared first on The Manila Times Online.