Born to create: 

Carlo Evaristo’s undeniable eye for beauty

By Hannah Jo Uy

 

The ‘D’ in Carlo Evaristo’s DNA may very well stand for ‘Design’, as he is one of the blessed few that holds an undeniable eye for beauty. This eye for beauty is so expansive that to call Evaristo merely a designer, does not do justice to the multi-faceted and inter-disciplinary approach he cultivates in his work developing jewelry pieces that serve as wearable sculptural pieces.

 “I guess it was natural for me,” Carlo said, when asked when he first realized his talent for creation. “I grew up with the family business, my mom had a boutique for more than 38 years.” Though raised in a wealthy family, Carlo emphasized that he was brought up to understand the value of hard work, even from an early age, which molded his resilient work ethic.

“Some people say, I’m a spoiled brat,” he said. “But I started everything with my own money and with my own heart. It’s innate. I feel selfish not sharing it with the public.”

What his mother did provide him with is experience and knowledge through travel, which Carlo credits as having greatly influenced his view of the world, as an artist and as a Filipino. “My mom let me travel since I was 16. Her graduation gift to me was a trip to 20 countries across Europe when I was 18. Since then, I’ve seen the world through different eyes.” Talking about his beloved country, Evaristo said: “We have to learn a lot of things from people all over the world. There is so much talent [to go around] there is no need to copy. Just believe in yourself, believe that you have a gift, you have a story to tell, you have a vision and you have your DNA in each item that you produce.”

His appreciation for the value of aesthetics led Evaristo to work as a fashion stylist for Metro Magazine, as well for other organizations. He worked as a stylist for more than a decade in fact, and in this time he was directing fashion shows, styling programs, and training models. During his work, he said, he would put pieces together and found that he didn’t like many pieces he worked with. This prompted him to make the bold decision to go to New York.

“It’s the 10 year anniversary of my jewelry business,” he shared. “The first piece of jewelry I made was not as ‘quality’ as I wanted it to be. So I studied manufacturing and export management at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.”

His time in the Big Apple not only solidified his technical knowledge in jewelry design, it also exposed him to a new medium of expression: Painting. As a self-taught painter, he was able to cultivate his talent in both artistic forms. 

Carlo’s creative process on both, however, widely differ. While his painting process is more spontaneous he applied a more methodical approach towards his stunning jewelry design. Gleaning from his training in New York, he meticulously does research before embarking in the creation of a new piece.

“I mix it with the basics, based on what I learned,” he narrated. “I have a mood board to make sure I don’t copy anything. Of course, you can be inspired by things you like, and you can it recreate according to your own DNA. I also sketch everything.”

The creative process is largely dependent on complexity of the piece. With laborious details, small and large metalwork often dipped in gold and other precious metals, and unique silhouettes, the execution of an idea could last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Aesthetically, Carlo consolidates traditional designs with modern details for his brand of “fashion forward” pieces.

His fascination with the Baroque period led him to several collections, borne from his fascination with nature and the luxurious Jewels of the British royal family and the Maharaja. “I like to imagine Audrey Hepburn in 2020,” he said. “Sometimes you need to break free from the norm, and be something different.”

The type of materials he works with varies dramatically, from metallurgical trimmings setting off jade and lapis stones to peals which, he admits is a material he favors throughout his collections.  As a designer,  Carlo is adamant about using his position to showcase the beauty of Filipino tradition and, as a result, he makes sure to integrate indigenous materials in new and unexpected ways for a distinctly Pinoy twist. His works alludes to aspects of the Filipino way of life, integrating kalesas and sorbetes images in a fun and interesting manner. “I often infuse Filipino shells with diamonds and crystals too,” he said. “I just want to promote the Philippines again in all the trade shows I do.”  

Carlo is currently busy with four upcoming shows, including Manila Fame. However, perhaps most notable is his participation in the distinguished Maison de Objet and Premiere Classe, in Paris, France. He emphasized that for these shows, he will be exhibiting unique pieces in celebration of the Filipino way of life, set off by modern elegance fit for royalty. With these prestigious international shows in the pipeline, Carlo is sure to put the spotlight not only on Filipino materials but also on the ingenuity of the Filipino artist.

“I’m a maximalist, not a minimalist,” he admits. “I like my women to be fashion forward, bold. I want them to dare to be different. I need my pieces to be noticed, not to be hidden. It can stand by itself and alone.”

With a host of exciting projects in the coming months, it would seem his unstoppable creative force will continue to push the limits and spearhead new innovations in the design industry. At this time, he admits that he is thinking larger and aiming to expand, thrilled at the idea that his pieces are to be worn by different people from all over the world. He is committed, more than anything, to share his gift to the people and, in doing so, make the world a little more beautiful for the people in it. “I want to be the best in what I do,” he said simply, “Don’t we all?”