Alumni
Alumna is Founder and Chief Designer of Beatriz Accessories
Beatriz Founder and Chief Designer Carissa Cruz Evangelista studied Apparel Industry Management at FIDM prior to returning to the Philippines, where she was raised and currently resides. Prior to launching her accessory brand, Carissa worked with community-based enterprises and assisted livelihood communities. Today, she collaborates with communities and local craftspeople for Beatriz’s colorful creations inspired by the bright and vibrant weaves and Filipino culture. We chatted with the FIDM Alumna to learn more.
What led you to found Beatriz Accessories? Love. Love for accessories. Love for Filipino artisans. Love for color, patterns, and beautiful designs. Love for community work and handwork!
Tell us how you team with local craftspeople for your bags: We dream up patterns individually or together and figure out great shapes for the season that would look well with those patterns. One step leads to the next and voila — we have a great collection! A collection evolves based on what is the design theme and dream, what is physically possible to make and how each item speaks to another item in the collection.
You recently collaborated with FIDM DEBUT designer Esther Gaor. How did it feel to work with a FIDM Student on her first runway show? We are beyond thrilled and so happy for Esther. We are so happy FIDM Alum Olive Lopez reached out to us and Esther selected us as a brand to work with and support her! She has beautiful work from what i have seen so far.
How did FIDM prepare you for entrepreneurship? It is important to always see the details: the stitching, the shape, the materials, and somehow it is the attention to the details that will carry you through to creating an amazing product. FIDM also taught me that inspiration can come from everywhere and to be proud of your individual voice as a designer.
Learn more online at beatrizph.com and on Instagram @beatriz_accessories.
Categories: Apparel Industry Management Alumni International
