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“1 per diem,” the designer bag line of Filipina designer Vanessa Espinosa is starting to make waves in the Big Apple.
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Vanessa began 1 per diem with the idea of departures, arrivals, her personal journey, and the idea of designing leather goods for the girl-on-go.

And guess what “1 per diem” label was only launched several months ago and is now enjoying rave reviews from New York magazine and Elle Girl Japan.

“The girl I design for is charmed by life. She rolls with the punches one day at a time, knows what she wants, and finds a way to get it whilst remaining balanced and grounded,” Vanessa said.

Refinery29, a website of emerging fashion trends covered by experts called 1 per diem the “brand-new It Bag.”

Born and raised in Iloilo City, Vanessa took up Marketing at UP Diliman. Right after graduation, she packed her bags for the US, dabbled in diplomacy, set her eye on fashion, and went on to start her own bag line in New York.

Vanessa manufactures her bags in New York in order to oversee production closely, and are made in a small family-owned factory in Chelsea.

Although working in diplomacy was great, it wasn’t the right fit for me. After five years in DC, I instinctively knew that I wanted to work in the fashion industry. I remember telling myself while in transition from DC to New York, “I will do any work as long as it is fashion related,” Vanessa explained.

From a career in diplomacy in DC, she shifted to retail in New York City and took an intensive one-year course in Fashion Merchandising plus supplementary studio classes in Accessory Design.

She had been working on my accessories line in 2008 and launched 1 per diem in October 2010. Since then there have been favorable results from press and retailers.

She describes 1 per diem is a pared-down mix of downtown, androgynous and not-so-polished luxury leather goods. My inspiration comes from experiences and what I see every day on the street, on the subway, the color of someone’s socks or the hairstyle of a client.

I’m very fortunate with all the favorable feedback from the press. Everything still feels surreal yet so fulfilling especially when I do most of the work myself including sourcing materials, overseeing production, press and sales. I’m a one-woman operation but I couldn’t have done it without the support of my closest friends in New York, my boyfriend who does all the web design and press kits work, and of course my family.

I’m just a small town girl with a big dream. My goal is to grow slow and steady. This is just the beginning. I know I have a long way to go but I’m a big believer in following one’s dream so I know things will happen in time, coupled with a lot of hard work.

(Part of the story courtesy of the Philippine Star)

 

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