#LifeLokal: From a graduate thesis to a fashion brand—meet Suzy Clothing
Who would've thought that a thesis project would eventually become their bread and butter? Such is the case for young fashion designer Corine Sibug.
Corine, a fashion design and merchandising graduate and former fashion stylist, found that there weren't that much clothes available in the market that reflected her personality. So, the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde graduate thought about creating pieces for her thesis and presented it through a photoshoot.
Not long after, she took the risk and started selling a few quantities of these clothes on Instagram. Thus, Suzy Clothing was born.
"I eventually fell in love with the process of designing clothes for women rather than dressing them up, so I stopped pursuing being a fashion stylist and focused on designing for Suzy Clothing," Corine told PhilSTAR L!fe.
Casual women's wear such as modish flowy dresses, dainty tops, and stylish co-ordinates, elegant formal dresses are types of clothes you can shop on this local brand.
"I needed a side hustle when I graduated because I only worked as a freelance stylist, so what started as a graduation thesis turned into an online shop named Suzy Clothing, and I was selling RTW womenswear in between styling gigs," she said.
Below, Corine tells us more about the brand and how she thinks Suzy Clothing stands out from other clothing brands.
What’s the story behind your brand’s name?
I was very into J-fashion back then— and the fashion brand names in Japan were mostly cute girly names. While I was scanning a Japanese fashion magazine, I stumbled upon the name ‘Suzy’, and I guess it stuck with me ever since. Hence, I named the brand “Suzy Clothing.”
How does your Filipino heritage/culture influence your brand values and identity?
I believe my Filipino heritage has inspired me to support and promote local. Having been exposed to the fashion industry ever since my college years, I have witnessed many incredible local talents that prove just how talented and hardworking our artists are. From seamstresses and patternmakers to beaders and fashion designers, I am fortunate enough to have worked with such a talented group of people.
For this reason, I promised myself that I will produce my clothing pieces locally instead of manufacturing them in a different country. By doing so, I am able to showcase the quality work of our team, and ultimately, inspire other local brands to do the same.
There are so many competitive brands within the world of fashion right now, how do you make your brand stand out from the rest?
With more and more brands emerging online, it can be truly challenging to stand out nowadays. However, I believe my brand’s differentiating factor includes my designs and the relationship I get to create with my clients and followers.
Additionally, I believe my way of creating content for the brand is also unique as I prefer to deviate from the usual catalog photoshoots. Instead, I prefer to take photos and videos in fun places that resonate with the brand’s image.
From your own experience, how has social media helped your brand?
Before we had an official website, I operated my brand purely through Instagram. Fortunately, Instagram boomed and I used this opportunity to connect with a wider audience and grow consumer reach. Instagram has also allowed the brand to materialize its vision and identity through the photos and videos that we get to produce and share with our followers.
How do you want your customers to feel when they're wearing your products?
My ultimate goal is for my customers to feel confident and one of a kind when they wear a piece from Suzy Clothing. As a brand that is run by a woman, I could only hope that I get to empower women in the clothes that I design and produce.
