If you happen to visit the beautifully curated home floor at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, some of the accessories on display are proudly made in the Philippines and designed by former fashion editor and now blogger, author and home accessories designer Blue Carreon.
In the home floor, his Galapagos brass ants and Mactan shell and brass bookends share space with top home accessories brands.
Meanwhile his new book, “Conversations: Up Close and Personal with Icons of Fashion, Interior Design, and Art,” can be found beside popular coffee-table books by Assouline and Rizzoli in the store’s book section.
I first met Blue while he was fashion editor of Philippine Tatler. A few years later, he was offered a post in Hong Kong Tatler, followed by stints in Singapore for August Men and Amica, and writing jobs for South China Morning Post, Forbes.com and Huffington Post.
His work took him to various jobs covering shows around the globe, where he developed his network of celebrities and personalities in the fashion industry.
As a result of Blue’s column Conversations on Huffington Post, he was able to secure a book deal with Sky Horse Publishing in New York through his agent.
His newly launched book features his interviews with personalities such as Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Ines de la Fressange, among others.
From journalism to retail
Blue’s home line was a result of good timing, guts and of course, an eye for style.
Blue thought of having his home accessories line while renovating his apartments in Makati, Hong Kong and New York—he found it difficult that he couldn’t find home accessories to his liking.
Through friends Marco and Jackie Antonio, he secured a small space at Century Mall. The store (now almost a year into operation) sold pieces sourced from trade shows abroad mixed with accessories and furniture Blue designed, which are made in Cebu.
From his first store in Manila, Blue approached the head buyer of Bergdorf Goodman for the home department last September about stocking his book at the store. After seeing that several of the personalities in the book are Bergdorf Goodman designers, they placed an order.
Blue then summoned the courage to show the buyers his home line. “It wasn’t on our agenda, but I knew I had to take the chance. It’s difficult to secure a meeting with the store’s buyers,” Blue said.
Unbeknownst to them, Blue had his line sheets and samples in his oversize purse. “The head of the department called in his other buyers, and they looked through my line sheets and samples and placed an order. I was so ecstatic after that meeting because it’s my dream to be at Bergdorf Goodman,” said Blue.
Aside from selling at Bergdorf’s and another book in the pipeline, Blue hopes to bring his home line to Hong Kong and to the Hamptons, where he and his partner also have a home.
“I think the rattan, shell and bamboo products Filipinos are famous for will work in that environment,” Blue said.
“Conversations: Up Close and Personal with Icons of Fashion, Interior Design, and Art” is available at National Book Store.
Blue Carreon Home is at Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.