RANDY ORTIZ: Fashion designer and businessman
The ability to evolve, adapt, recalibrate and reinvent is a constant for me and is a must for all of us who are in the creative field.
Daily TribuneThe ability to evolve, adapt, recalibrate and reinvent is a constant for me and is a must for all of us who are in the creative field.
Beginnings
I started in the industry more or less in the mid-80s. I started from humble beginnings at the backyard of our ancestral home with a borrowed capital of P30,000 from a friend, set up two machines and hired an employee who could cut and sew ready-to-wear/made-to-order clothes which I personally peddled to family, friends and schoolmates. I also went to government offices for my RTW. I did it all: I sourced fabrics, I made my hands “dirty” and became part of the whole creative process.
Challenges
The most challenging part, as always, has been managing labor and keeping clients coming back year after year. Fortunately, I was able to keep my clients of different generations from the olds to the sons, daughters and grandchildren.
Keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of the industry is also a must for me to be in tune with what is happening here and around the globe.
Where I am now
I am still very active with my passion which is designing beautiful pieces for my male and female clients both for bespoke and RTW. From time to time, I also celebrate milestones of my career by way of staging my latest takes in men’s and ladies’ fashion.
Wisdom
Our industry is all about longevity and the ability to stay grounded all the time. I believe in respecting my colleagues especially those who came ahead of me. The attitude of humility is very important to me especially when attention is overwhelming. Being a student of the art and being professional with my career has been a key ingredient for me for the last four decades. The ability to evolve, adapt, recalibrate and reinvent is a constant for me and is a must for all of us who are in the creative field. I also make it a point to tell my story, my values, my core and my sensibilities whenever I come up with a new collection.