CARY SANTIAGO

Most Creative Force

From humble beginnings in the Queen City of the South, this year’s Most Creative Force awardee has dressed some of the nation’s most prominent women as well as the beauties of the most recent Miss Universe and Binibining Pilipinas pageants. He has taken his inspiration from some of the world’s greatest cities and the colourful culture of the most exotic nations.

The youngest of six children, Cary Santiago got his start at the tender age of 15 when a Cebuano clothing company hired him to do sketches for their ready-to-wear line. By age 23, he started his own business and was soon working overseas where his innate creativity and perseverance shone through and grabbed the attention of the international fashion scene. He has never looked back and has gone from strength to strength as he dresses some of the world’s most beautiful and most powerful women.

Truly an old soul, he finds magic and whimsy in the streets of Paris and the whirlwind of colours in India, finding inspiration in the most unlikely places and working with local fabrics to bring the most breath-taking ideas to life. Indeed, he has been quoted as saying, “Don’t be inspired by just the work of others. Be inspired by anything and everything beautiful that surrounds you.”

Keeping his emphasis on the beautiful and the inspiring in mind, it is not surprising that Cary Santiago continues to raise the bar with regard to innovation and elegance in the world of fashion.

Together with his award, Mr Santiago will also enjoy a three-day, two-night stay at a villa at the Crimson Resort and Spa-Boracay.