THE SARI-SARI STORE

 

The most challenging moments in my life became the foundation of my journey as a designer.

Growing up with humble beginnings, I learned responsibility early. As the eldest, I helped provide for my family. My mother put up a sari-sari store, and I was tasked with tending it daily. While my friends played outside, I stood behind the counter, wondering why I had to stay inside while the world moved freely.

But amid the neatly stacked goods, I found a way to dream. I began collecting fabric scraps from tailor shops, bringing them back to the store, and crafting tiny dresses for my doll.

 

People often ask if I studied fashion to design bags. The truth is, my first lessons came from that sari-sari store, where I learned to piece things together, dream, and transform challenges into something magical.

That little store taught me that creativity can bloom anywhere and that every hardship, if embraced with courage and vision, carries the seed of something extraordinary. Every setback is a stitch in a greater masterpiece—guiding, shaping, and preparing you for the success meant to be yours.