STEFFI CUA
Travelling reveals the heart and soul of the land and its people.
Seeking beauty to challenge my perceptions and reconnect with my heritage - this is home.
Once working in the fast-paced fashion buying offices of a high-profile luxury retailer in London, Steffi is now back home in the Philippines finding her own path to making fashion more meaningful and sustainable.
In Manila, where life is slow and the heat is constant year round, Steffi discovered her love for fashion as a designer. Having always wanted to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the industry; she took a leap of faith with her husband, moved to London to pursue further studies and set out to develop her career on the wider stage.
With a keen interest on the business side of fashion and a love for beautiful products, Steffi took postgraduate studies in Buying and Merchandising at the London College of Fashion. After graduating, she went on to work for a notable wholesale agency in London, managing the sales and distribution of emerging fashion brands in their portfolio, such as Koché and Thierry Colson, often working hand-in-hand with the buyers of some of the coolest retailers in the industry: Net-a-Porter, MatchesFashion, Selfridges and Le Bon Marché.
Later, she was offered the opportunity to join the buying offices of Harrods, as part of their International Designers Womenswear team, curating the most beautiful ready-to-wear for their clientele. Steffi was responsible for high-profile luxury brands such as Balmain, Alaïa, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, and more contemporary ones like Isabel Marant, Off-White and Vetements.
Since coming back to the Philippines in 2019, she has taken an active role in rediscovering her Filipino heritage through textiles and surface embellishment. She is a member of the HABI Philippine Textile Council with the aim of preserving traditional crafts, and has been supporting local artisans through her personal projects. Slowly but surely, she hopes it will all come together in the form of what she loves most: beautiful, meaningful and sustainable clothing.
Q1. Tell us a little about yourself: What is your background and what inspires you to create.
My background is heavily focused on fashion. I took up fashion design in University, moved to London from the Philippines, and worked my way up from an unpaid internship to the glamorous buying offices of Harrods. Since coming back to my home country, I've started writing about fashion and travel for some of the best local publications, Metro.Style and Preview PH, providing a different take on run-of-the-mill options. Since I'm also a member of the HABI Philippine Textile Council, I'm doing some personal research on Filipino heritage crafts, going around the country and seeing if there's ways I can help in safeguarding them.
Q2. What kind of traveller are you?
Travelling is my way of seeking out beauty, and like anyone else, I use it to broaden my perspective. I crave for transformative and meaningful journeys, where I'm taken aback and my perceptions are challenged.
Q3. Have you ever travelled solo? What tips would you give to a first-time solo traveller?
I'm not particularly adventurous when it comes to travelling alone, but I've had the pleasure of trying it out last year in France. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I don't think I'll be doing it too often due to the limitations on the quantity of food I can order (lol). Travelling alone as a woman can be liberating, but only if you are comfortable doing so. A viable alternative is joining a slow tour like that of the TextileSeekers.
Q4. Where have you travelled to this past year? / Which travel destination has left you with the most memorable experience?
I've been fortunate enough to visit a number of beautiful destinations last year like the south of France for a wedding and Istanbul for the holidays, but I will always remember 2019 as the year I rediscovered my home country and Southeast Asia. I travelled to remote places in the mountains, and involved myself in the lives of indigenous peoples here in the Philippines, and in Vietnam through TextileSeekers. It has given me a new lens and deeper appreciation for heritage, slow fashion, and women empowerment.
Q5. The emphasis on working with women sends such a positive message. Who are the female figures whom you admire?
I've grown up surrounded by empowered women my whole life - two of my moms, my childhood nannies, and majority of my friends. I went to an all-girls Catholic school where 99% of the population were women and proceeded to work in the fashion industry where the majority again are women. There's no doubt in my mind that women are just as strong as men. I truly believe this, even though sexism is ripe here in my country having a president who promotes misogyny.
Q6. How is slow travel different from the usual way of travelling?
In my opinion, slow travel is one of the few ways you can really make the most out of any trip, or life for that matter. It reveals the heart and soul of a location, through immersing yourself in the local culture, meeting the people and their way of life. It's very hard for me to go back to travelling the way I used to because somehow the old way now feels very inadequate.
Q7. As an entrepreneur, how do you focus on wellness in your life?
It's really important to carve out time for yourself and your loved ones. I am a huge proponent of work-life balance. At the end of the day, if you're not physically or mentally well, it puts limitations on what you can do.
Q8. Who do you think should come on this trip? And what would one hope to take away from this tour with TextileSeekers?
In all honesty, I think everyone could benefit (and should go) on a trip with TextileSeekers. It was such a good mix of high energy and slow vibrations: being excited, going on an adventure, meeting the locals, seeing beautiful art and crafts; all while still being able to recharge in the midst of beautiful surroundings. I came out of this trip super inspired, not only from the travel itself, but also from the wonderful women I had the opportunity of meeting. It truly was an eye-opening, soulful experience on so many levels.
Q9. Do you have one or two all-time favourite fashion pieces? Do you have a favourite designer/artist?
My favourite fashion pieces have a lot of sentimental value. I have great memories of a Fall 2016 patchwork Koché dress, having worked with the Christelle Kocher and her brand in London and Paris, and later on, wearing the dress to the British Fashion Awards. Another special piece in my wardrobe is a 1990's embellished exotic-leather Dior sandals, which I bought from a second-hand shop in Paris. It reminds me of the John Galliano/Alexander McQueen-era from when I started my journey in fashion.
Q10. What are you reading now?
I've just finished André Leon Talley's book, The Chiffon Trenches, and felt quite upset knowing there's still hardly any inclusivity and equality in the fashion industry. Thank heavens there are now accounts like @dietprada calling these brands/figures out and holding them accountable. I've started reading Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. It's an autobiography about his time as a park ranger in Utah's Moab desert. I'm craving the great outdoors since we've been on lockdown for nearly four months already, so fingers crossed this book can transport me back to the feelings and freedoms we once enjoyed.
Steffi travelled with TextileSeekers in November 2019 - follow her story on @gosteffigo