METRO MANILA / FASHION / Clothing
Founder: Rachell Miranda Crisostomo
1. What got you started with this brand? What was your inspiration? What is the idea/concept behind it?
To give you a brief background, ever since I was in college, I have always been interested in selling different kinds of things. I sold frozen goods, slippers, and pretty much anything that I could find in Divisoria. I needed the money to pay for my tuition fee since my parents were no longer supporting me financially.
Now on to the beginnings of Juliana and Co.
Way back in 2016, I lost my job. I still clearly remember that day. I went to work with a smile on my face, but went home really depressed and broken as I did not expect that that would actually be my last day at work. I was terminated. What made it even more difficult for me was the fact that I was about to be married. I could not take the thought of being a burden to my soon-to-be husband. Hence, as soon as my husband and I got married, I immediately looked for work. I applied and accepted any job offer even though the salary was really low. All I cared about that time was having a source of income. However, a few months into my new job, I was diagnosed with subchrionic hemorrhage. This required me to go on bed rest and therefore I had no choice but to resign from my job. I was pregnant that time and when I gave birth, the depression kicked in even harder. I had no source of income. I was not used to the situation wherein I am not able to provide for my family. I could not stand the feeling of being a burden to my husband. My depression went on for several months.
Then one day, I needed a new bag, so I decided to look for one online. That was how I discovered the way online shopping/selling works. Before I bought the bag though, I made sure to sell some of my things first so that I would have the money to pay for my new purchase. I did not want my husband to pay for something that I wanted for myself. At that time, my husband was earning almost P10,000 per month and that was not enough to cover all our bills, like our house mortgage and baby needs. Ever since that day of discovering how online shopping/selling works, anything that I would see online, I would resell (usually bags and shoes).
I have always wanted to start my own brand. So I finally made the bold move to start my own clothing line with my own designs. We sold our car and I borrowed P40,000 to use as my initial capital. And Juliana and Co. was born.
2. What is your personal favorite product from your brand?
The Peppita Dress. I like it because of the vintage print design, and also because it’s a maxi dress. It reflects my personality well.
3. What do you want people to experience with your brand/product(s)?
I want them to feel their best every time they are wearing my brand. People say, “What you wear is who you are.” If you dress appropriately for a particular situation, you can get the interest of the people around you.
4. What tips and advice can you give to entrepreneurs who are just starting out or are planning to start their own brand?
Know your market, and know the platform you are going to be using for your business. Know which product is good to sell and have knowledge about it. Consider the fact that not all products are good to sell. And remember that being an entrepreneur is more than just selling and gaining profit; having passion for your business is more important than earning a big profit.
5. What other additional information and details would you like to share?
I would just like to highlight my personal story of how I used my depression to fuel both my dream of starting my own brand and my passion for selling and marketing. I hope my story serves as an encouraging reminder to everyone struggling with anxiety that if they really want to, they can overcome their depression. It won’t be easy, but it will surely be worth it.
Follow Juliana & Co. on IG!
LOVE, PHIL. 