Cebu-based artist set to conquer the international arena

CEBU, Philippines - What do big international names like Ralph Lauren, Lane Crawford, Harrods, Neiman Marcus and Armani Casa all have in common? At one point or another, they became clients of Arden Classic Inc., a Cebu-based manufacturer of elegant home furnishings and accessories.

Arden’s creations are one-of-a-kind products made from the finest indigenous materials and exquisite workmanship that’s steadily gaining local and international acclaim. Their designs include intricate timeless pieces using sea shells, ostrich egg, mother of pearl and even animal bones accented with silver plated brass and other metal accessories.

“It’s hard to imagine that the items we used to make in our kitchen from a small Cebu City apartment have eventually found its way to department stores, and even patronized by world-renowned brands,” begins Arden Siarot, visionary owner behind the 12-year-old company. “I thought — if these brands were able to sell our products, then why can’t we sell them on our own?”

Even as a child, Arden’s creativity and entrepreneurial skills were already apparent. Coming home from school, he would tag along with his father to collect melted candle wax, make designs out of it then sell them to candle makers. As a teen, he and his siblings peddled bananas and sweet potatoes to their neighbors to augment their family income.

He took up a technical-vocational course at the Don Bosco Manpower Training Program to equip him with skills in machinery maintenance and fabrication then he enrolled at the University of San Jose Recoletos to pursue an Electrical Engineering course. His technical skill and creativity were further developed when an Italian jewelry manufacturer at the Mactan Export Processing Zone hired him to head its engineering department.

Then 30 years old, he was practically running the company’s operations. Eventually, he decided to venture on his own. “At that time, I was thinking: I am young and can still find work. If this doesn’t work out, I’ve got nothing to lose,” Arden recalls.

In 1994, Arden Classic Inc. became a furniture subcontractor of the biggest high-end furniture maker in Cebu. The business became part of the heyday of wrought iron furniture. Their expansion was fast—until the industry died down.

“Since jobs were few, we started joining international trade shows and then diversified. We included home decors and accessories like picture frames to our wrought iron furniture,” he shares. In 2000, he was inspired by a German book which showed art pieces that combine shells and metals. He relates, “It was a slow start: I finished my first creation after three months. But I got hooked. Every time I saw a shell, I would imagine designs.”

Today, in recognition of his creativity and passion, Arden Siarot has received various recognitions for product excellence & innovation like the President Ramon Magsaysay Award from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Golden Shell Award for Manufacturing Excellence from Citem-DTI in 2002. He was also named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2003.

According to Arden, several companies abroad have also been asking his permission to carry Arden products in their high-end lifestyle stores. In fact, last June, Arden Classic products were launched in Taiwan. Arden Classic Inc. has also partnered with Planters Development Bank, which is known for supporting small-and-medium-scale enterprises.

“They continued to believe in us even when others started to doubt. Plantersbank knew our situation when the wrought iron industry died and that the economy wasn’t that good. Still, they believed in us — they saw we are focused. Plantersbank helped us grow our company by financing our expansion,” says Arden.

For its consistent world-class quality and commitment to creativity, one can say that Arden Classic has not only gained the trust of Plantersbank, but more so the trust of a continuously growing set of loyal patrons. To know more about Arden, check out www.ardenclassic.com. (FREEMAN)