Being a newbie in the fashion industry, it's overwhelming to meet successful people and learn more about their story of how they emerged from the top.
Met this inspiring young designer, Gelo Salanga a few months back when I was returning some pulls we used for a magazine shoot from a retail company. And now he's making a name in the fashion industry launching his very own clothing line: Garrison.
Read more about this young clothier's story of how he tailored his dreams and achieved success!
*Hi Gelo! First off, congratulations on the launch of your newest clothing line, Garrison! Can you tell us how it feels like to achieve so much such as making waves on the fashion industry at such young age?
-Thank you Yannie, if being in the industry that I've always wanted to be at and doing what I love to do considered a success, then I feel really good and blessed with where I am right now. However, I honestly and genuinely do not think of myself as that "successful", I still have lots of dreams that are yet to be realized and challenges to overcome, that said, I am fortunate enough to be doing what I really want and building the foundation of what soon will become of me.
I am very much new in the industry and I have a lot of work to do but I am slowly becoming more confident of my skills and I started believing in myself and my capabilities more. It is a work in progress and definitely a long journey to take but I am humbly crediting all the people who have always been supporting and believing in me ever since. I don't want to sound cheesy but I have to make it a point to stress how incredible my parents, siblings, family, close friends and mentors are in helping me become the best of myself. Their trust and constant guidance made the person that I am today and all of it I offer back to my Creator.
*The name of your line is Garrison, can you tell us more about the process of creating your brand and how did the dream of releasing your own clothing line start?
-Ever since I made the conscious decision to choose fashion as my primary career path, owning a clothing label has always been at the back of my head; however, it was totally unexpected how soon I am able to put up GARRISON. I was at a crossroads when I graduated summer of last year after earning myself a degree in BS Clothing Technology from UP Diliman and for the first time in my life I wasn't so sure of what to do next and I’m sure a lot of people my age out there experienced the same too.
In college, we thought we already knew what we wanted in life and how to achieve it but once we were set out to the real world, it can get pretty tricky and scary. Most of us often only see the end part of our goals- the sweet success, forgetting how much sacrifice and effort we have to put in to arrive at that point and how crazy and difficult life can get. Admittedly, I wasn’t ready for it – I was not ready to compromise my visions and ideals because I’m such a control freak and the only way things for me should work is how I planned them but it is not the case, we are never in control of anything and we can never control life, we can only take it in and live through it. I’d say it was a very pivotal moment for me because it centered my perspectives on life and career. It dawned on me that the choices we make today consequently decide the life we will have for the rest of our lives so choose wisely.
We were not born rich but my siblings and I are lucky enough to have parents than can give us more than what we need. I am fortunate to have a father who is very supportive of our career choices and matter-of-factly, he was the one who is constantly giving me ideas about opening up my own business even before I graduated, although the idea of having him 100% behind me should I decide on putting up my own line is very comforting, to say the least, I didn’t want to use his resources for funding because I think that my parents already did their part in raising us and giving us the best education we can have.
So I decided to take on a corporate-design retail job as a junior menswear designer in a local clothing brand and though I learned valuable lessons during my stay at that company, I found myself yearning for more creative freedom and thought of the time I spend working for someone else’s dream instead of working on mine so after just 2 months in the job I decided to quit and venture on an uncharted territory of having my own line. I talked it through with my dad and he helped me with the initial funding while I take on all aspects of the business from branding, concept, designs, pricing, dealing with suppliers, development, marketing, sales and publicity with the help of my friends.
My dad always tell me that everything is a risk so just take that leap of faith and venture on it. The best lessons in life come from our experiences so that’s one reason why he wants me pursue this- for my own growth.
*Aside from being a successful clothier and designer, can you tell us more about yourself? Like any past experiences that led you to the fashion industry?
-I remember ever since I was young, I’m very much interested in the act of “creating” something. I often used to mix random stuff I can find in the house or arrange our furniture even though I have a small body at that time. Whenever I feel something is not quite right, maybe the tv set was an inch off the center or I don’t like how the plates and utensils were laid out on the table, I will really fix it and it just felt so natural to me at that time.
Arts became my outlet in expressing my thoughts and individuality. I write, did theatre for a time and also do photography on the side. Fashion came quite early as well, it just evolved, I used to doodle designs in my grade school days and share it with my classmates not really knowing that there will be a life waiting for me in this industry. You see, I come from a small town in the province of South Cotabato in Mindanao, so access to the fashion industry is kind of a taboo. People didn’t really thought of it as a career.
I started out as a BA Communication Arts major in UPLB wherein I also did small time theatre work and after a year, I transferred to UP Diliman under BS Business Administration program because I thought that’s the more practical choice and also my family would be proud of me but I really cannot fake myself, after just a semester in BS Business Administration, I talked to my parents and told them that Fashion is what I really wanted to do and that no matter what they think or how they feel, I will stand up for myself and pursue what it is that I really want – so I shifted to BS Clothing Technology and they just have been so supportive since.
Sometimes, or most of the time, we overthink about the pros and cons but what I learned is that, aside from listening to the loud noises in our heads, it is also important to listen to the whispers of our hearts, because that is where the most basic and truthful of our intentions come out.
*We all know the journey to every fashion dream is not a walk in the park. Fashion industry is really a cut-throat, dog-eats-dog industry. What are the battles you've fought and the lessons you've learned while going for your dream?
-It is definitely not a walk in the park. Fashion and the arts, in general, are highly subjective and competitive kinds of industries. Whatever floats your boat as they say. Not everybody will like you or your work and that’s really hard for us artists and creative people because we are so attached to our works that even the simplest constructive criticism might still sting so we really have to develop thick skins in order to persevere; however, I always believe that talent can open doors but it is your heart and humility that will keep those doors open. What good is a very talented person if he/she is very hard to work with and so full of him/herself ?– so I always remind myself to be humble and improve my skills and appreciate the people who helped me and continue to help me get to my dreams. I’m always grateful.
So, even though there are a lot of times in which I question myself and my work, I always turn to those who believe in me and know that God has a purpose why he gave me such talents and opportunities
*Tell us more what can we expect from you and Garrison in the upcoming days? Any plans of expanding? What collections can we look forward to?
-Yes definitely, but I try to take it one step at a time. We just recently soft-launched GARRISON wherein our basic line URBAN STAPLES was featured, right now, I am in the development stage of our first main line collection to be out some time middle of the year. This collection will be more directional and design-focused. We will try to network with a few retailers to hopefully carry the pieces. Also, I am studying the possibility of releasing a line of bags and some leather goods. Of course, as I tread on this path, there will be a lot of straightening and re-structuring going on within the label but I can now honestly say that I am ready- I am ready to learn, to make mistakes and to experience this challenge. The label will grow at the same rate of how I also grow as a designer, businessman and a person. Hopefully everything will pan out greatly at the end.
*Any message to aspiring designers out there?
-Be serious about your craft. Look beyond the superficiality of glam and beauty that our industry holds. This is real hard work and business.
Be passionate and develop your own self first before venturing out to the world. Our industry can be overwhelming so you have to be sure of who you are and what you want to become lest you fall victim to the harsh side of fashion and might lose yourself in the process.
Study! Never ever rest on your laurels as they say. Through technology, knowledge is very available and accessible to us on this age so you don’t have any excuse on not getting yourself updated and expanding your own know-how.
Be humble. Most importantly, JUST GO FOR IT! Really, that is all that matters.
*END*
To be honest, I was meaning to edit out the lengthy answers but I realized that every word he said was pure inspiration and I don't wanna cut out the message this interview conveys for the sake of a uniform post. If you didn't get inspired after reading Gelo's words, then I don't know what else can ignite you to stand up and start chasing your dreams! Life is too short and every time wasted is time gone! Before ending this post, I want to tell you all to never be afraid for the future is indeed bright for those who do not rest on their hopes and dreams!
I will be featuring more stories of success and inspiration from today's youth so make sure to hover over here everytime!
xoxo,
Yannita*
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*huggs!*
