By: Sherry Tenorio
Styling the likes of A-listers Nigella Lawson, Vanessa Matsunaga, Kim Cam Jones and Solenn Heussaff represents Bea Constantino’s impressive body of work. Her sublime balance of eye-catching visuals and stylistic depth has earned her purpose-driven aesthetic plaudits from the industry. Her work over the past 14 years continues to layer in more dimensions to her craft, cementing her legacy as one of the country’s preeminent stylists.
But the gorgeous stylist is aware that she couldn’t be a fashion stylist forever. She knows that fashion is her world, but there’s more to what she could do. She admits, “I am at this point in my career when I have to ponder about the things that I had accomplished in the past 14 years. I’m at this point where I question myself about the sense in all that I do. It’s not just about styling or dressing up someone or looking good, it’s also about a sense of purpose like homecoming, heritage, giving back, tradition, authenticity – it’s all about that.”
She ultimately found her sense of purpose by revisiting her roots. Moving forward meant looking back. Beyond the glam setting of her styling world, Bea now also immerses herself in her ancestral Zamboanga. It is here where Bea was generally drawn to the diverse richness of the indigenous ethnicities – Subanon, Sama, Tausog, Yakan, Badjao – and in particular to the beautiful visions of the woven textiles that were handmade by the artisans of the Yakan tribe.
Finding her future path was an outcome of a random trip, but an outcome of an epiphany that led the pretty stylist to rethink her purpose in life. Bea told Calyxta, “So, I woke up one day, and I felt the need to have a sense of purpose. Then, I found myself in this path back to my roots – putting up the Herman & Co., a heritage concept brand that I co-own together with my brother Dinjo. And, suddenly, it felt like an anointed path, that I’m meant to do it. It felt so right.”
Bea’s venture to Herman & Co. does not only highlight her years in fashion but more importantly tells the narrative of her family’s German-Chavacano-Tausug heritage. The genesis of the concept brand began with Sulu Coffee, the twin brother of the woven clothing line that Bea spearheads. The Sulu Coffee narrates a century-old story that started in 1860s when Bea’s great-great grandfather Captain Herman Leopold Schück landed in Jolo. The German merchant mariner fell in love with the Philippine town, established a brotherhood (by way of blood compact) with Sultan Jamalul Alam, and settled in Lukut Lapas, Jolo where he built a plantation with thousand shrubs of coffee.
After more than three years of upholding the family’s heritage, Bea and her brother (members of the fifth generation of the Schück clan) have built Herman & Co. in promoting the local cultures. From enriching the lives of the coffee farmers in Sulu, the company, through Bea’s leadership, has reached out to the Yakan weavers, and recently started a clothing line that uses the indigenous woven textiles made by the indigenous tribe. In a matter of months, Herman & Co. released limited pieces of Victoria, a collection of trendy varsity jackets with intricately handmade accents of the Yakan weaves. Over the holidays, the company came out with colorful coordinates, Tiara, that come with a reversible top and culottes that imbibe the vibrant fusion between the Malay culture and Yakan artisanship. Meanwhile, the stylish and colorful weaves are also used in Herman & Co.’s exclusively designed neckerchief and standout #OOTD post worthy top, Amirah.
With her sense of purpose, fueled by her creativity, passion and fashion acumen, Bea is not only continuing her family’s legacy but she is also helping improve the lives of the local artisans. She quipped, “If I’m able to impart something to someone then that makes for a very fulfilling journey.”
In our exclusive interview, watch Bea Constantino answer more questions about her as a stylist and as a founder of the brand Herman & Co.
