The Humble Beginnings of Peach Garde

By Peter Gagula

At the offer of my aunt to fund my college years, I agreed to take up a course in Nursing at Central Philippine University. I was just starting to love my journey in becoming a nurse when some family issues occurred that forced me to leave during my third year.

Instead of staying at home, I wanted to be productive and started to look for a job. After being rejected by several companies, I finally earned my first job at a mall.

I performed my job well and would usually get high appraisal ratings; my superiors would even commend my work ethic and potential. Unfortunately, I could not get a promotion due to my educational attainment. After five years of working for SM I started thinking about moving on advancing my career.

Clueless as to what step I would take next, I chose the path of least resistance. I took up Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Merchandising for the sake of the diploma.

I was again a freshman at the age of 24. Still, I never thought about becoming a designer (basta makagraduate lang ah). My time in Iloilo Science and Technology was challenging at times, especially tackling new things like sketching and operating a sewing machine.

I maintained my discipline and kept my sights on the prize. I would wake up at 5am to prepare for school and go home at 10pm after my work shift. I would work pa with my school projects before going to bed. It was a grueling challenge. But eventually, I discovered I had a passion for the arts and ultimately loved doing my projects.

That passion and hard work resulted in me being crowned champion in the ‘ISAT U Project Runway’ in 2016 and the ‘ISAT U Fashion Designs 2017: A Research Output Presentation’ with my study: “Military Salutes Fashion.”

Coming into my senior I was faced with a tough choice of quitting my job to make way for my studies. All the struggles and hardships were worth it in the end as I graduated in 2018.

With my remaining savings, I wanted to put up a small business in fashion. Yet my world was turned upside-down when my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away just a few months later in July 2018.

With my brand (Peach Garde), I will continue my dreams and make my mother proud.
Just recently, I was privileged to dress up the newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Gazini Ganados.

Glamming up for an interview with Arab News, Gazini wore a Peach Garde deconstructed dress. Cropped plaid double-breasted coat-dress with shawl lapel and false pocket flaps, and navy blue inner. Minimal and clean with an asymmetric cut-out on the skirt. Sewn as one, the garment is basically tailored-finish which is a Peach Garde signature-style.

Gazini is just one of the growing number of celebrities that Peach Garde dressed up.

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