Cebu designers gaining niche from local and foreign markets

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s edge in the creative sector has paved the way for a lucrative fashion design trade as Cebuano designers are now gaining client base from both domestic and foreign markets.

For this reason, popular fashion designer Wendell Quisido invested P7 million for the establishment of a three-story “Wendell Quisido Design Studio” that primarily specializes on bridal and party dresses, located at the Mabolo area.

“The market for designer clothes has increased significantly, most designers now in Cebu are not only making designs for the local customers, but also we constantly get orders [bulk] from other areas in the Philippines, including Manila, and other countries,” said Quisido who made his name in the fashion design industry in Cebu at an early age.

Quisido, who is also a vice president for the “Clothes for Life,” an organization of fashion designers in Cebu, said that this potential could be maximized if the fashion designing industry here will get strong support from the government.

While, Cebu has gained popularity in fashion design, which is now closely competing with the well-known designers from Manila, he said those that have good talents should be honed to strengthen the industry’s potential.

According to Quisido, as competition in the business is normal, standardization of the players should also be started, and the government is called to initiate on this bid.

“The market is expanding, there is room of opportunities for everybody. Competition is tough, but good designers have made their not only because they have good capital for promotion, but they are able to prove their [world-class] craft,” he said.

Aside from making elegant designs for gowns, bridal and party dresses, Quisido has also ventured into rentals, wherein clients reach as far as the provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao, and also in Luzon.

Quisido said that the market has changed now. Unlike in the past, when their clients are composed largely of the affluent market , today, customers from across the social segments are part of the fashion designers’ market.

“The market has changed now. Everyone wants to have their dresses for special occasion be tailor made and skillfully designed,” he said adding that fashion designers who have made their names in the market has benefited from this, and this development could also offer opportunities for the talented and start-up fashion designers in Cebu. (FREEMAN)