Ternocon mentor Rhett Eala and Ternocon Pacita Longos Medal (Gold Award) awardee Peach Garde recall their journey to the Ternocon Finale and the lessons they learned from each other along the way
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WHEN DID YOUR FASHION JOURNEY START?
PEACH GARDE: It started when I graduated from a state university with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising. But it wasn’t really my dream to be a fashion designer at first. I only studied fashion design, because I was pushed by my superiors from my permanent job in SM. I was a candidate for promotion then, but I couldn’t be promoted because I didn’t have a diploma. So I just looked for courses that I could take so I could just get a diploma. But during the course of studying, up until graduation, I learned to love the routine, the sewing, so I resigned from my job and became a full time fashion designer.
RHETT EALA: I always knew that I wanted to become a designer. I’ve always wanted to be involved in fashion.
WHAT IS YOUR DESIGN IDEOLOGY OR FASHION IDENTITY?
PG: My brand is known for minimal design, minimal aesthetic, clean and tailored. So I just want to continue that path, to produce clean and, you know, minimal garments.
RE: I guess I’m the same way. I do very classic shapes, and then we concentrate a lot in good fabric. I try not to do something very trendy, but I also want to do things that are very well made.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US HOW YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WORKS? WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
RE: It’s many things. Some of it is from traveling somewhere, a film or an image I saw. Most of the time it’s the fabric that speaks to me. So that’s how it usually starts.
PG: For me it’s the same, my inspiration comes from anything. But most of the time from different weird shapes. I want to translate this into something wearable. And also the fabrics. Because it’s like my stimuli, and I could create something new out of it.
Read more of Rhett Eala and Peach Garde’s conversation in MEGA’s March 2025 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photography by SELA GONZALES. Production and Art Direction JONES PALTENG. Styling ERICA TEROL. Makeup CATS DEL ROSARIO. Hair BARBIE FAVIS. Models LEILA AND ANGELINA OF MERCATOR. Shot on location at ACM STUDIOS.
