Craftsman, Artists and Poets at heart. Love letters.
We were required to interview a fashion entrepreneur of our choice and luckily I remembered reading about this group of inspiring people that express themselves through their craftsmanship.
It’s a rarity in an industry that’s fast paced, controversial and fame centered to find a brand that has a different motive. That has a story that they want to tell, a love letter of sorts.
Kix Suarez, the front man of this brand was the fashion entrepreneur that I wanted to talk to and I know, while exchanging questions through their official email, that he’s the one I’ve been talking to. I’ve noticed how he speaks with words like “we” instead of “I” and “our” instead of “my”. Im in awe at how he values teamwork because I never specified that I wanted to talk to him and him only. He could have taken all the credit but he didn’t and I feel like through his words, I’m talking to all the artists of this brand.
Months before this interview I’ve already read about them from Scout Magazine. It was a short Q&A, nothing really special that would catch your attention at first glance but it captured mine. There was this one question that made me instantly like them, follow them and finally interview them, it was this:
“What do you hope to see in the Philippine Fashion Industry?”
One word. No explanation needed.
And with just that The Artisan has captured my fascination.
I hope you read this interview with an open mind and have come to understand these artists’ story beyond the heartbreak that they embody. I hope you appreciate the way they honestly speak with words that have come unfiltered from their thoughts and I sincerely hope that you’d become enamoured by them just as I am.
“I wish I could fix all the things I break”
1. What is The Artisan and what sets it apart from others?
The Artisan is a group of guys that continuously try to create things from scratch/from existing things. We are often labeled as a clothing brand but our dream is to be able to shake out of that label/bias. We try to make other things outside of clothing i.e beer, flasks, perfume. Hopefully we’re known by what an artisan is – a craftsman.
2. What is your motivation to start The Artisan?
Heartbreak, regret. To be a constant reminder, souvenir of a love to this day I still haven’t gotten over.
3. What is your aesthetic?
That’s a very difficult thing to define but we like things that aren’t perfect. Maybe that’s our aesthetic?
4. How do you describe yourself?
We’re romantics and we like to make things.
5. What is your background? (education and career wise)
We’re all from different backgrounds. I graduated from Ateneo Business and Comm. The other partners are in aeronautics, design.
6. You’ve said in your past interview that “The brand has gone through a lot of changes in the past six years and it’s only now that it actually feels right.” What led you to eventually find your brand’s identity as it is now?
My previous partners seemed to have different visions for the brand. Now, with Robert Samson, Kevin Dizon and Bryan Arcebal on board I feel like we’re all on the same page. Rob and Kev started out as interns of the brand and closely worked with me both in the operations and the creative side of things. They understand the brand and they bring in their own narratives that elevate even further the story we’ve set out to tell. Bryan is the most recent addition to the team. We’ve worked together previously on a few projects but it’s only now that he is finally heavily involved. The first collection with him on board will be released this coming fw.
7. Why do you think is there a need to do business? How do you balance business and creativity?
Because making things cost money. I think if you’re product is good, and people can identify with the story you’re trying to tell, people will support you. I guess that’s how we balance it. We make things that we like, and we share it and so far, it’s doing alright.
8. In making DIY clothes, each piece is genuinely made and different. Where are you able to get the raw resources to make each piece of clothing?
Wherever. It varies per collection. Depends mostly with our current fascination/obsession.
9. What do you wish to see in our fashion industry?
People care too much in the fashion industry. Everything has to be the latest trend or fad. People should look to sincerity. People in the industry take themselves too seriously too, where’s the fun in that?
10. What do you want the person who would wear you designs to feel?
I want them to buy from The Artisan because they like the clothes. Because they dig it. That the story or the design appeal to them.
11. If you could make a clothing line out of any concept, regardless of possibility, what would it be?
Good question. The Artisan has been a continuous narrative — a love letter of sorts. And my dream I guess is to be able to finally sew and stitch all the words, questions, feelings into the clothes and finally say everything I want to say, and hopefully, maybe, by chance when this person sees this collection, she’ll know. I wish I could fix all the things I break.
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