MANILA, Philippines - “At 16, I knew I would be doing something creative for a living,” says famed shoes and accessories designer Emi Jorge, whose passion allows her to tell beautiful stories through her designs inspired by anything that carries a positive vibe.
For many years, Emi was a shoemaker and designer for her brand Solea and did a lot of bespoke shoes for local clients, brides and runway shows. Constantly evolving as a designer, Emi decided to shift from designing shoes to accessories. “I lived and breathed shoes for more than 20 years and I’ve never gotten really tired of it…I decided to do a shift from shoe designing to feel what it’s like starting from a fresh palette. I found myself designing bags, jewelry and odd sorts of things,” Emi recalls.
Equipped with her long history in shoe designing and a Fine Arts degree from University of Santo Tomas and further studies at the Clothing and Footwear Institute of London, Emi debuted in 2010 with her exquisitely designed and handcrafted minaudieres through an exhibit, together with another Filipino designer Brian Tenorio, in New York. This exhibit opened a lot of doors for Emi, including being invited to sell in London’s renowned CoutureLab.
“I like the idea that my design grows on the wearer and finds a different angle to appreciate when worn different ways,” says Emi, who finds herself always going for the uncommon things and going out of the norm. “I design for a person who can look beyond a brand and appreciate my design sensibilities such as value for craftsmanship and independence from the mass-produce goods.”
Pieces that Emi design can hold one spellbound. This rang true when Project Runway judge and Marie Claire creative director Nina Garcia visited the country last year and raved about Emi’s Symphony No. 5 clutch — a piece inspired by Christmas Day and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Nina so admired Emi’s clutch that she requested to meet Emi in person, “I had the pleasure of meeting her for an hour where we discussed how I could move my brand forward,” shares Emi.
Emi, also a part-owner of Cura V, an upmarket lifestyle concept store, keeps her family close to her heart as it is her source of everyday motivation. Married to Ram Jorge for 19 years now with three children, Alana, 17; Tamara, 13; and Joaquin 12, Emi enjoys being with her family and cherishes every moment she spends with them. “We enjoy each other like friends do. You’d see us trooping at night for a coffee in Starbucks, grabbing green tea ice cream in Quezon City or whipping up the biggest soft-serve ice cream at a neighborhood Family Mart. We’re also that family who tries anything and everything, we recently learned how to surf and we shall pursue it as a family. There is still so much in my list that I want to enjoy with my family and hoping time slows a bit,” Emi says.
With everything that Emi has achieved, it is her family that keeps her grounded. “I do everything for my family. I am thankful to God for the kind of life that I have. I am blessed with so much love from my husband and kids,” Emi concludes.
Photography by MAU AGUASIN • Creative direction by LUIS ESPIRITU JR. • Styling by ANN ANDRES • Makeup by PIA REYES for MAC Cosmetics • Hairstyling by DAVE LOPEZ • Pink ball skirt by RANDY ORTIZ for MYTH; light pink top with white pants by RAJO LAUREL • Jewelry by MILADAY JEWELS • Shot on location at SOLAIRE RESORT & CASINO’s FINESTRA