Erick Sua-an and accessorizing
* "My works are bold. There's more socialization and exaggeration. I mostly go with the Victorian concept"
Ria Bolivar wearing Erick's Mother of Pearls neckerchief
EVER been to Ichi Pichi and marveled at how their jewelry designs come out unique and very creative? Well, they have young and dynamic designers who never run out of ideas. One of them is Enrique or Erick Sua-an, who happens to be an events organizer and marketing expert, too.
Erick revealed that it all started with his job as an artist for Jollibee, handling Iloilo, Roxas and Kalibo branches. His friend and a crewmate in the said food chain invited him to visit Ichi Pichi.
"That's where I met Tita Coy and she told me to decorate her store following wedding as a concept. There, I observed how the designers worked on the jewelry and I told myself that I could do it, too. So I tried one. Then, it so happened that they were preparing for an exhibit in Manila and they wanted someone to stay behind in Iloilo. So I stayed here and got used to working on accessories," Erick told The News Today. Then it was when they were recognized. Designers go to Ichi Pichi and ask them to accessorize their clothes for fashion shows.
Get to know more about him in this interview.
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): What was your first jewelry output?
Erick Sua-an (ES): My first work was a rosary-type set of necklace and bracelet.
Tears of the Ocean neckpiece
KMV: Do you have works that were published in magazines?
ES: Yes. Don Protasio asked me to do an accessory following the concept of summer ... like that of a mermaid. This work was published in the Moonstruck Edition, Summer Issue of Preview Magazine. I also have an accessory incorporated in Don's design and was published in Lifestyle Asia. It consists of exotic black pearls with crystals.
KMV: What's your design process?
ES: First, I base it on the customer's personality and the occasion. For example, if it's a wedding, it would depend on the gown's cut. If it's fully beaded, we suggest a pair of chandelier earrings or tiara.
KMV: Do you also put the materials together?
ES: Yes.
KMV: Do you distribute your designs?
Afghan-inspired neckerchief with loop
earrings as featured in Mega magazine
ES: My fellow artists and I have this line called Arte. We supply this in SM Stores in Iloilo, Delgado, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan and Davao.
KMV: What's the Erick Sua-an trademark?
ES: My works are bold. There's more socialization and exaggeration. I mostly go with the Victorian concept.
KMV: What accessories do you prefer to wear?
ES: I go for silver, which I sometimes buy or make myself. I made this necklace which I consider my lucky charm. It's a Tiger's Eye because this stone boosts one's convincing power and artistic skill. It's good for business.
Gothic-inspired neckerchief featured in
Lifestyle Asia
KMV: Since we're already talking about fashion, what get-up do you prefer?
ES: I am comfortable with jeans. Then, I go for layering because I want to be unique. Mostly, we see people having the same clothing. So, I go for mix-and-match and layering so that if someone wears clothing like mine, at least, mine has layers.
KMV: Any preferred color combination?
ES: Black and white. Earth tones.
KMV: What's your daily routine?
ES: I wake up early in the morning to process all my appointments, especially when I have weddings. I also work as event organizer. In the afternoon, I design for Ichi Pichi. In the evening, I go to Face Value because I'm the Marketing Consultant there. When I get home, I surf the Internet. I spend weekends with my friends. I basically sleep six hours a day.
KMV: Hobbies?
ES: If I have free time, which is seldom, I just stay in my room and watch movies in DVD.
KMV: Any pets?
ES: None. But I have stuffed toy monkeys. I collect them. I already have 15.
KMV: How old are you?
ES: 30.
KMV: I thought you're 21 years old.
ES: Yes, a lot of people always get my age wrong (laughs).
KMV: What's your secret to looking younger than your age?
ES: I make sure that I am happy. Even if I'm alone.
KMV: Any skin care regimen?
ES: I have a problem with my eyebags. I look older when my eyebags worsen, so I use eye distressing by Face Value. I also have diamond peel every three months. Now, I'm using gluthathione soap and vitamins. I wash my face clean before sleeping.
KMV: If you were an accessory, what would you be like?
ES: I will combine metal and stone. Metal is hard. I'm thin but I'm hard. Then, stones for color because my life is colorful. I'd use Tiger Eye and Onyx. I am creative in dealing with people in my work. Then, I will use wires to connect them together. With the use of wires, accessories would be hard to untie. Just like me. You can't easily break me.