Getting to the root of it all
This pretty young lady is simply amazing! I first met Beatriz “Bea” Schuck Constantino through IG and I fell in love with her brand, which was known then as Herman & Co. and has since been renamed Studio Sug. It is a heritage clothing concept brand, which showcases indigenous weaves, textiles and artisanal products from Philippine tribal groups, particularly from Southern Mindanao.
When I worked with Bea back in 2018 for our Katutubo PH special project that highlighted Philippine fabrics, the more I admired her passion and contribution in creating more awareness about the various weaving communities in Sulu and Zamboanga City.
Bea chooses to promote local fabrics, in turn helping local weavers in preserving our culture.
I was also impressed by how she would always proudly introduce herself as Chavacano-Tausug during interviews and seminars and even more proudly as a Filipino. Bea grew up hearing stories from her family’s two provinces, Zamboanga City and Sulu, and how they were unlike any other because of their charm, brave warrior ancestors and beautiful, abundant farmlands.
But it was only in 2016, after experiencing what seemed like burnout from her hectic styling career that she felt the desire to truly know more of who she really is and where her family is from. This made her want to frequently visit Sulu and Zamboanga City. It was during her trips back home that she got to know more about the rich, beautiful culture and heritage of Mindanao.
“I found myself feeling this renewed sense of purpose and because of my background in fashion; it felt natural for me to put up a clothing line showcasing local weaves from Mindanao. I first named the brand as Herman & Co. I wanted to pay homage to the main root where my family is built upon and that is because of my great-grandfather Capt. Herman Leopold Schück, who arrived in Sulu from Germany in the late 1800s to do commerce and trade. Without any desire to conquer, he assimilated himself into the Tausug culture and became the Sultan’s right-hand man. They did a blood compact, which made them blood brothers for 44 generations. I am from the fifth generation,” shares Bea.
Bea’s Zamboangueña side comes from her grandfather, the late senator and “The Great Filibuster” Roseller T. Lim. He, until today, is the first and only Zamboangueño who has been elected to the highest seat in national governance. He also spearheaded dividing the huge Zamboanga province into Del Norte and Del Sur so that they each would get their own local governance and budget.
Bea tells us, “If I can help create small changes through the help of many others, I would consider it a successful journey. I am still working on this. This is why cultural awareness and preservation are so important to me, because I perceive traditions and customs as a blueprint of who we are as a people today. I was able to find huge chunks of a lot of missing pieces of my identity when I got closer to my roots, the appreciation that I have today of whatever it is we have just grew exponentially because of this experience. I am so grateful to my family in the province for this opportunity that has helped in a way, communicate our culture to urban locales and perhaps to the rest of the world — someday.”
When asked who is her style icon, she replied, “ My grandmother, Amy Schück Lim, is my first and forever style icon. She was a sheltered Tausug Muslim woman who married a politician and she had to really step into the role quickly. Her entire wardrobe was custom-made by Aureo Alonzo and she still was that strong Tausug woman when she dressed casually. Growing up seeing her couture closet really inspired me to want to create with clothes.”
Bea’s advice to those who want to follow her career path: “There have been countless times wherein I thought my career was not going to move forward or it became really difficult, but it never crossed my mind to quit.”
Here is Bea’s advice on how we can preserve our culture:
1. Read up on your roots! Start within. If you are fortunate to still have your grandparents alive, ask them to tell you stories — this will give you a firsthand account of how we have evolved as a society and they have survived many adversities in the process.
2. Research on the notable people from your province and what their journey was like. Our ancestors have so much wisdom and it is truly inspiring what they were able to achieve during their time (sans internet, social media, even utilities like electricity, etc.).
3. Support local! Buy local products because the process behind making our homegrown products is truly a labor of love. Also what I’ve noticed is that the mentality of “local is cheap” has been erased because of the rise of local brands with premium branding and products.
4. Get to know your dialect, if any! I am so envious of my cousins who speak the dialects so fluently and so I try to absorb as much as I can and integrate this into my every conversation. Even if your roots are from Tagalog-speaking cities, learn the deep words! I find old and proper Tagalog to be so poetic and romantic!
5. Travel local when it’s safe! The Philippines is just so, so beautiful and my trips back to Sulu (one of the southernmost corners of the map!) made me realize how many undiscovered destinations we still have and are waiting to be explored (as soon as it’s safe!).
6. Wear Pinoy! I grew up thinking that anything Filipino was only meant for “Linggo ng Wika” or Filipiniana-themed occasions, but having my own brand made me realize that I can easily integrate local weaves and textiles into my everyday wardrobe. Please do your research also when you purchase textiles as some of them might have restrictions due to the tribe’s customs and traditions.
(You may check out Studio Sug’s first solo pop-up in Rockwell this week, August 4, Thursday at the R2 Level, Power Plant Mall.)
(We welcome your suggestions and comments. Please e-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Instagram @monsromulo.)
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