RACING TO THE TOP
MARK BUMGARNER's bold spirit has taken him across different industries, driven to succeed
Before Mark Bumgarner made his mark in the world of fashion, the Swiss-Filipino designer was first known in the world of car racing. “Racing was my first passion,” he says. Fashion and racing might seem like extreme, polar opposites but he says that it was during his travels for racing that got him interested in the world of design, and being able to see how women all over the world dressed up.
About five years ago, he realized he wanted to make a career in fashion, and thus opened his atelier. “I decided to create clothes, bags, shoes, and sometimes, jewelry,” says Mark. Today, his designs are worn by a gamut of stars, from Lifestyle Asia April Cover Girl Heart Evangelista Escudero, the current Miss World Vanessa Ponce, and Bollywood Star Sonam Kapoor. On Instagram, local and foreign fans alike breathlessly exclaim at his opulent gowns.
His atelier, a homey space with chocolates on offer for guests, receives visits by beautiful women who are regulars in magazine pages and houses select pieces of his accessory line, with more casual wares currently on display at Powerplant Mall in Makati for a two-month residency.
He was also invited to design a couple of pieces for local brand Plains & Prints for their 25th anniversary. In short, everything career-wise is gleaming with perfection, just like his well-crafted red-carpet gowns.
While his ascent to the top has looked effortless to outsiders, Mark says it wasn’t all fun and glamor in the beginning. It is, after all, a long slog to the top of the fashion world and only the most determined survive.
“It is a long and tedious process. One needs a strong mind and heart to make it in the fashion industry,” he says. “You also have to be open to learning, and of course open to change.” Unlike most of his colleagues in the industry, Mark never went to school for formal training. Learning on the job has allowed him to adapt and change throughout his career. His talent lies in knowing exactly how and what women want to look, and most importantly, feel in his exquisite creations. This is why women want to wear pieces from Mark Bumgarner.
The world of fashion is rife with competition, with designers all fighting for a piece of the pie, and according to Mark, the culture of rejection is common. “One just needs to be steadfast and disciplined,” he says. “Nurture the people who support you, and keep that ambition high. That will keep you on the right path.” Mark was advantageous in that he was able to turn his passion into a viable business, and he says it can always be done. “Find that work/life balance. Know when to take a break and when to focus,” he says. According to him, knowing your goals and giving yourself a clear path to get to them will make the process easier than imagined. It is easy to give in to the temptation of celebrating early successes, but the reason why Mark is beloved in the industry is that he hasn’t rested on his laurels. Instead, he continues to create and innovate, knowing that he has more to offer his clients and fans alike.
For someone who has reached the pinnacle of success, Mark says having a meaningful life is one that is full of purpose, the satisfaction of knowing you are in the place you are meant to be and to be fulfilled in life. “It is also the acceptance of the fact that life could have bumps and bruises along the way. But it is how one rises above this that matters,” he says.