Sometimes you take a few detours before you arrive at that place you were meant to be all along. Such is the case with designer Mark Bumgarner, who discovered his love for fashion after traveling the world as a race car driver.

“During the time I was racing formula cars (open-wheel race cars), I would travel the world over and this is how I got interested in fashion—seeing different women with different styles and tastes from other cultures and places. I thought fashion was interesting.”

Now, he’s a driven designer, creating wedding gowns and streamlined silhouettes. Not shy of his roots, he even held a fashion show alongside Mazda cars at the recent Manila International Auto Show. His designs have also been snatched up by celebrities such as Heart Evangelista and Maggie Wilson-Consunji.

I decided to open an atelier when… I was asked to join a junior styling/design team for a denim brand in 2012. Being surrounded by such creative and fun people made me realize I wanted to make a career out of this. The atelier was trial and error at first; I invested slowly on machines and people.

The foreign design house that has influenced me a lot is… Dior, for its classic influence. I also love Giambattista Valli for its romantic flair.

I believe clothes should… transcend age and/or generation. Women should be able to wear anything they want and feel good about it regardless of age.

I would describe my personal style as… classic with a twist.

A fabric I’m obsessed with now is… brocade. I have been using brocade for years now and I think it’s finally making a comeback into the mainstream.

My favorite color palette for the season is… pink, yellow and gray.

I have a regular compulsion to buy… shoes, books and magazines.

I am a lover of… pets. I used to have a lot of dogs, but now I only have 10 (nine French bulldogs, one mini schnauzer) and five cats (three Bengal cats, one Persian cat and one Himalayan).

My basic grooming essentials are… Master Facial toner, Old Spice deodorant, Safeguard and FAE soap, Listerine mouthwash and La Merunder eye cream.

When it comes to personal maintenance I’m… fussy about my hair! I always try to keep it neat.

A scent I’ve been loyal to for ages is… Chanel Bleu for the past six years.

My daily grooming regimen… involves brushing my teeth and styling my hair. That takes all of five minutes.

When it comes to grooming myself, I spend the most time… trimming my beard. I use Braun Series 9.

Eye relief

If your weekly lifestyle is a combination of late nights and poor sleeping habits, try Mark’s puff-reducing, bag-demolishing eye potion: La Mer’s The Eye Concentrate (P10,150). It’s a bit of a splurge, but one dab of this gel on your under-eyes and you’ll look fresh, more awake and glowing.

Its formula focuses on using efficacious botanicals to provide noticeable results that lighten shadows, reduce puffiness and wrinkles, and make eyes look less sunken. Exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati (tel. 8122507), Rustan’s Shangri-La (6334636) and Rustan’s Cebu (6332-2311166).

More pick-me-uppers

It’s a well-known fact that green tea is great for you. But if you’re having a hard time swapping your coffee for this green goodness, you’ll be happy to know that The Body Shop has found ways to reap its detoxifying health benefits through your skin.

Japanese women have been using green tea in their skincare regimen for years to help retain moisture and tighten pores. The Body Shop’s new Fuji Green Tea Collection comes from the pristine region surrounding Mount Fuji in Japan, where the finest shoots are handpicked and infused into this range to replenish and refresh with pure moisture.

The scent is divine—sharp and sweet at the same time, and very refreshing. The range includes Exfoliating Soap, Body Scrub, Body Butter, Body Sorbet, Body Lotion, Body Wash and Eau de Cologne. These are available at selected The Body Shop branches. All SM Advantage Card members can now earn and redeem points in all The Body Shop stores.

Mark’s choice products come from supermarkets nationwide and Rustan’s beauty departments. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @MarkBumgarner or visit his Facebook page MarkBumgarnerManila.

Mark’s Atelier is at Cernan St., Moonwalk, Parañaque; tel. 0917-5219938.