EARL GARIANDO

In a season when people are searching for something refined and authentic, designer Earl Gariando’s metal clutch bags and costume jewelry are worth grabbing on to as a fashion investment. His handiwork explores the unyielding qualities of brass metal inscribed by his vision of the natural world.

Using brass metal as his canvas, Gariando imprints the delicate shapes of flowers, leaves, webs, and other natural forms to gracefully create pieces that flourish with thoughtful ironies. Otherwise, Gariando celebrates the nautical life with exquisite Philippine shells stringed with metal that remain radiant through time

An interior designer by education, Gariando graduated from the Eastern Visayas State University, Tacloban City in 2004. He acquired a license in the same year, pursued his dream in designing and landed a three-year stint at retail giant Bench, specializing in display and eventually in product development and design of its underwear line BenchBody and its ladies apparel Kashieca.

Gariando caught the discerning eye of international buyers when he debuted his Repoussé Series of wearable art at the Manila Wear section of Manila FAME in 2016. Here the embossed motif, the repoussé, showed exquisite craftsmanship as metal was carefully hammered and sculpted by hand.

Gariando keeps his steady collection of couture fashion accessories under his eponymous label at FIRMA in Greenbelt 3 and BIJOU in Greenbelt 5 in Makati City. To find his one-off pieces, buyers may also visit him at his atelier in Pasay City. A rising name in the genre of fashion accessories, his brand is also available in the US, Kuwait and Singapore.