Classic femininity and timeless allure—there’s no other designer who can master such delicate aesthetic than Mark Bumgarner
From one fashion week to the next, one powerful collection after another, Mark Bumgarner has become a red carpet mainstay in global and local fashion scenes. With such an illustrious clientele all across the globe, what’s next for the young couturier?
“I started my designing career in 2013,” Bumgarner says. “At first, it was just a hobby, sketching for friends and family. I used to have my clothes made in a sweatshop of another seamstress until I was able to purchase my first sewing machine.”
It was a simple beginning for the household name, and it was a long process to get to where he is today. How did he achieve critical success? Through his one-off feminine designs and signature soft architecture.
“My current design ideology is to always think about what’s next for my brand,” Bumgarner mentions matter-of-factly. “I love creating beautiful things, but also, we need to make it current and think of the customer. After all, we are here to sell clothes and not just to create ideas.”
Coming from the glossy world of society pages, Bumgarner thought about venturing into jewelry, shoes, bags, and leatherwear. Enter: Bumgarner Studios.
What matters most for Bumgarner’s brand is the enduring impressions on their customers: that they value experiences that exceed the norms in fashion. Carefully designed clothing and accessories that reflect innate style and timeless beauty bring out the purposefulness in their craft. This is what enables them to achieve the high standards they set for themselves.
“My creative process involves always looking to the future and how to incorporate it into my aesthetics,” Bumgarner reveals. “Most of the time, it involves traveling and seeing what other people are wearing, from colors to the ways a piece of clothing is worn. Inspiration comes from so many places, and how to interpret an idea depends on everyone’s perception.”
This excerpt is from Designer Profile: Mark Bumgarner found in MEGA’s December 2022 – January 2023 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader, and Zinio.
Photography JERICK SANCHEZ
Creative Direction NICOLE ALMERO
Fashion Direction RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Beauty Direction MIA CASTRO
Makeup HANNA PECHON
Hair DALE MALLARI
Styled by MIGUEL QUILANG
Sittings Editors BAM ABELLON and MARIAN SAN PEDRO
Model CHELSEA MANALO of MERCATOR ARTIST AND MODEL MANAGEMENT INC.
All pieces by MARK BUMGARNER
