Go big or go home. A sure way to get someone’s attention——the right kind of attention——is through accessories that speak volumes. Minimalist earrings have framed our faces the past seasons but surely, there’s nothing quite like a pair of larger-than-life flower earrings to steal the spotlight. Bacolod-based accessories designer, Camille Argallon, offers some of these show-stoppers through Aretes de Mim. She makes everything by hand and sources materials locally. Here, she tells us how her brand started out.
What sparked the idea to start your own accessory business?
“I was once looking for unique earrings but couldn’t find [any that I liked], so I decided, why not make my own? It started with crochet earrings and I made way too many for myself so my cousin suggested we should sell them.”
Aretes de Mim—interesting name! How did you come up with it?
“Aretes means earrings in Spanish and Mim is a nickname my family and close friends call me by.”
Have you always been into accessories when you were young?
“Yes! I would always play with my Lola’s jewelry. She had an amazing collection of clip-on earrings!”
Tell us about your latest collection. Where did you draw inspiration from and what compelled you to focus on flowers?
“I was searching for flower earrings but I wanted something one-of-a-kind. One day, I saw suede blooms on my daughter’s headband and that gave me the idea. That’s when Agustina, my latest collection, bloomed! My inspiration comes from the women in my family. Hence, the earrings are named after them. They have unique styles that I admire and draw inspiration from.”
What materials do you use for your accessories?
“Suede, silk, wood, and yarn.”
What type of woman did you have in mind when designing the line?
“A woman who can wear an Aretes de Mim piece in many different ways—be it on a normal day, on a date, running an errand, at a wedding, in the office, or even while doing laundry!”
What are your favorite color combinations?
“The classic black and white, as well as off-white and gold.”
What do you think sets Aretes de Mim apart from other accessories brands?
“When I say handmade, it is made with love. I put my heart and soul into each and every piece I make. I only make a limited number of earrings because I want whoever wearing Arestes de Mim to be unique.”
What’s the most challenging part of your business? How did you overcome it?
“The most challenging part I guess is trying to manage my time between working on the accessories and taking care of my kids (a 7-year-old and a toddler). How to overcome it? Time management and setting priorities——that’s living with the slight chaos of being a mom, running the household, and being an entrepreneur.”
What advice would you give to someone interested in getting into the accessories business?
“Don’t be afraid to be different. The designs I thought were not good enough turned out to be the bestsellers.”
What can we expect next from Aretes de Mim?
“Blooms mixed with crochet.”
This story originally appeared on Preview.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
