Fashion is their passion

MANILA, Philippines - Many children of businessmen often say they were just forced to take over their family companies, and they long to be doing what they really love.

But Happy Andrada, co-owner of Fashion Art (F*ART), is an exception.

At 25, Happy said she is living her childhood dream and loving it. 

She and her sister Viva are running a successful fashion boutique that offers funky, fashionable finds for fun and fabulous Filipinos. 

Aside from being a store that offers exciting items, F*ART is also a place where young and rising Filipino fashion designers can showcase their creations.

Happy said she knew she wanted to be a fashion designer since she was a kid, mixing and matching the clothes of her dolls and raiding the closets of her mother and sister.

“Do what you love and the rest will follow” is Happy’s motto. 

She studied Fashion Designing at the La Salle College International. After graduation and some styling jobs, she put up F*ART with her sister Viva, who has a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the Asian Institute of Management. Together, they discovered that starting a business is not easy but is worth all the hard work.

“Before we started our business, we did research and wrote our business plan. We wanted to ensure the success of our business before diving into it,” Happy said.

She admits that the name of their store, Fashion ART or F*ART, sums up what their company is all about – fashion and art – and has strong recall among their clientele.

“You have to generate awareness about what you are and what you do. You have to be creative in setting yourself apart from your competitors. The products and services you offer must add value to your customers so you can get a share of the pocket,” Happy shared.

“An entrepreneur’s job is 24/7,” adding that she often wakes up early and stays up late to think of ideas for the business.

“Business made me grow as a person, in terms of skills and experience. Each design I make is unique and I make it as best as I can. When my customers are happy, that makes me truly happy,” she said.

Happy added, “I want to teach the Filipino youth useful skills they will need to succeed in life. I also want to inspire more Filipinos to become entrepreneurs like myself.”

Another thing Happy wants to do in the future is to show the world how amazing Filipino talent can be.

“We do our best to support homegrown Filipino talent,” Happy said.

This year, Happy will be representing the Philippines in international fashion competitions in Japan and Korea.

“I will keep joining fashion contests and exhibits so more Filipinos will be known in the global fashion scene. I will carry the Filipino flag wherever I go. I am a proud Filipino entrepreneur and fashion will always be my passion,” she said.

On Sept. 27, the Go Negosyo will be recognizing Happy and Viva as part of the Go Negosyo inspiring young Filipino entrepreneurs in the 2010 Youth Entrepreneurship Summit at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

The award will be presented by Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion along with the Go Negosyo Trustees.

This will be the second major event of Go Negosyo for this year, following the success of the Women Entrepreneurship Summit last March where 20,000 Filipinos flooded the World Trade Center.

The theme of the Go Negosyo Youth Summit is centered on reinforcing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Filipino youth by enjoining them to develop a positive change in their mindset and empowering them with relevant entrepreneurship tools and concepts. Forums and programs will be held, with topics ranging from the negosyo basics to tips and advices on youth concerns and interests. There will be booths and exhibitors, showcasing different products and services that also present business model ideas and opportunities to attendees.

Go Negosyo encourages the Filipino youth to take advantage of the one day summit, which is open for free. Mentors and other successful young entrepreneurs, like Happy and Viva, will be there to share their words of wisdom to those who would like to follow their footsteps.

The Go Negosyo Youth Entrepreneurship Summit is presented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo and the Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with PLDT SME Nation, Smart, RFM, BPI Kanegosyo, Mang Inasal, Nokia, Citi, Alo Youth, Vitwater, Rexona, Creamsilk, Belo, ATR Kim Eng, R.A. Gapuz Review Center, National Livelihood Development Corporation, Landbank, Presidential Social Fund, Condura, The Philippine Star, Folded & Hung, Ever Bilena, BDO and Splash.