Women have been paving the path for entrepreneurs in different industries for many decades. They recognize the incredible value of diversity and are committed to developing ideas to succeed and unleash their talents.
Every entrepreneur’s dream is to find that happy medium that doesn’t only provide financial stability but also allows them to do what they love with endless possibilities.
Karla Durangparang is living that dream.
Karla is a successful entrepreneur and a creative individual who thrives in the world of business. She is the woman behind The Wilde Studio.
The idea of establishing the business came to her many years ago, but it wasn’t until 2020 that she fully embraced it. Karla has a deep appreciation for art and the ocean. She travels a lot, and for the past three years, she was able to tap into the creative world of longboarding. “I wanted to express my love for the sport in the most organic and personal way I can, so I started illustrating and designing what I thought feels good while I’m in the water and on my longboard. Not to mention, this project and staying creative really helped me get through the quarantine period during the rise of COVID-19 way back in 2020,” she shares.
“Wild” is the energy that Karla harnesses when creating. As an artist, she is her own worst critic. It wasn’t until she dove deeply into studies on self-reflection, the universe, and spiritual consciousness that she decided to let go. She found herself putting in hours of self-expression through mixed patterns and textures, combining florals, moons, and the cosmos into her illustrations. That’s how The Wilde Studio was born.
Quality swimwear that doesn’t hurt your wallet is not very accessible by most Filipinas. Popular swimwear brands are too expensive for an average person to afford. This was Karla’s driving force to open the business. “My belief in the business is to put out quality swimwear, make it accessible, and promote eco-fashion. It is not without challenges, I must say. I always go back to those core values when the going gets too tough,” she confesses.
Karla adds, “When I see the finished product and the culmination of the endless hours of thought, visualizing, and arguing with myself having to make boundless choices, I also see women rocking their swimsuits, having the time of their lives, being the free spirits the brand has always envisioned for our wearers to embody.”.
The Wilde Studio thrives despite limited resources; as a start-up, this is one of their challenges. Despite this, they have improvised, experimented, and ensured there is learning through the entire process. Each of the wearable art pieces is designed and handmade in very limited quantities. The brand itself also represents the local artisans who made them.
The Wilde Studio wants to make a sustainable impact by reducing their carbon footprint. Their marketing and social media presence make it a point to remind their consumers to be conscious and thoughtful. This message they want to impart is the mindful culture that their brand fosters and encourages.
Photography Dani Bautista | Makeup Danilo Pepito | Hair Wesley Jay | Styling Vanessa East | Sittings Editor Micah Almazan | Editorial Assistants Bernice Quimbo and Janna Yuvallos | Location Marco Polo Cebu