Fashion is fickle. Many in the industry believe that one is only as good as one’s last work. While a designer’s work may be deemed brilliant on one season, the bigger challenge constantly lies on how one is able to sustain such success if not to top it.
Fashion designer Debbie Co is the kind whose goals are reliably set. With eyes steadily set on success — be it for work or her personal life — she has been creating quite the impression among peers and colleagues in fashion industry through her classic, sophisticated yet essentially relaxed sense of style. She begins, “I have faith that everything happens for the best but I take my work seriously. I work very hard to achieve goals in life.” Shortly after graduating from the De La Salle University with a degree in Industrial Engineering, Debbie decided to pursue her true love: fashion.
In 2005, she enrolled at the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London where she was able to further harness her sensibilities and design aesthetics. Debbie recalls, “I would always want to make the most of the opportunities that are given to me.” Only a few brief months after London, she returned to Manila to work on her premiere pieces that ultimately had style savvy citizens trooping to stores like The Ramp, Ishq and Souk where she was consigning her designs. It was also during that year that Debbie launched her ready-to-wear line called After Eight. She discloses that her general philosophy when it comes to work is mainly comprised of “Hard work, patience and faith in one’s self.” Debbie elaborates, “Life is too short for you not to start focusing on what you want to achieve now. And when you are certain that you love what you do, this will easily translate to success.”
As the proprietor of her very own shop, Atelier Debbie Co, this young mover in the fashion industry is rightfully enjoying the fruits of her labor. “Opening shop from scratch and believing in myself has been one of the most defining moments in my life. I also think that being able to run the shop independently for two years now is quite an achievement,” ponders Debbie. Today, many come flocking to her shop for pieces that speak of a hushed brand of femininity, elegance and grace. Her chic designs, very much reflective of her penchant for glamour, now hold testament to the well-rounded and unaffected lifestyle that she upholds: “Style is an individual’s approach to all aspects in life. It is eternal and defined by one’s attitude.”
When she is not busy with orders, meetings with clients and suppliers, Debbie takes pleasure in the experience of travel. At least once a week, it is imperative that she is able to spend quality time with family and friends — for an intimate dinner, over a good game of tennis, to unwind in a spa or simply to enjoy a relaxed weekend free of the stresses that urban living brings. Debbie candidly shares, “Work hard, play hard!”
Her success and the good things that have so far gone her way are mostly credited to her ability to balance her life. She stresses, “Spend time on the important things and always stay focused.” Staying true to what she had first set out to do when she studied fashion, Debbie is continuously setting benchmarks to improve and excel in her craft. She says, “Creating something from nothing gives me a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. When I think about that, I am inspired to work harder towards my goals.”
This is good pattern behavior as best exemplified by fashion designer and proprietor Debbie Co. — Bianca R. Salonga