Twinkle all the way | The Manila Times

Twinkle Ferraren Co-Founder and Creative Director Style Isle

THE fusion of textile art, fashion, accessories and business is no stranger to Twinkle Ferraren.

A talented artist and entrepreneur, Ferraren is known for designing accessories, swimwear and dresses that blend indigenous materials, natural fibers and vibrant hand-painted prints, embroidery and beadwork.

Her name has become synonymous with a brand rooted in sustainability, culture and artistry.

As co-founder and creative director of Style Isle, an art advocacy project, Ferraren is dedicated to supporting and promoting weaving communities in the Philippines.

Coming from a family of artists, she started doodling on the family dinner table at the age of 1, and from there, her creative journey expanded. She explored various art forms, from making paper dolls and candle-making to Claymation, painting and charcoal drawing.

If it could be made by hand, Ferraren likely tried it.

Her parents, both artists, were early influences on her.

Her mother, Maryjo, was known for sewing countless Barbie doll dresses, creating mini-dolls and organizing bazaars and shopping centers (until 2006). Her father, Bongo, worked in production and animation.

Art runs deep in the family: her brother is a musician, her sister is an actress and her youngest brother is a multimedia artist.

When asked why she combined textile art, fashion and entrepreneurship, Ferraren explained that as a young student, she realized she needed money to continue buying materials for her creations.

“It was a great addition to my allowance [which was only enough for food and snacks],” she recalled.

Starting an accessory business in college motivated her, especially as she found joy in customizing color combinations for each client.

Her satisfaction came not just from the creative process, but from the smiles of happy customers when they received their pieces.

The more she learned about textiles, the deeper her passion grew. Ferraren discovered that textile art encompasses many industries — tradition, culture, agriculture, nature, technology, and of course, fashion.

In her childhood, she was already selling bookmarks, personalized stationery, candles and tie-dyed bandanas — early signs that textile art, accessories and fashion would become her calling.

Ferraren’s education at Central Saint Martins in London, where she studied Fashion, Textile Design, Styling and Journalism, proved to be the perfect foundation for her artistic and business ambitions.

Entrepreneurship came naturally as she expanded into various product lines. Her art evolved as she began creating more accessories and resort wear, gaining experience selling in boutiques, hotels and resorts.

Her website describes Ferraren as an experimental designer whose collections are inspired by dreams and the tropics.

She collaborates with artisans and indigenous tribes across the Philippines, producing ethically sourced, sustainably made fashion, textiles and accessories. However, working in the resort wear sector wasn’t without its challenges.

Ferraren recalled the damage her swimwear experienced from typhoons, saltwater and even mishandling by shop staff. These setbacks taught her to be more careful with her collections and to manage her finances with greater diligence.

“It was challenging for me, because during this time, I just wanted to keep creating this special edition swimwear,” she admitted.

“But the business was full of concerns.”

Despite these hurdles, Ferraren’s love for art and fashion kept her going. She began creating other types of clothing, including jackets, gowns and special pieces featuring intricate beadwork and artisanal details.

In 2013, Ferraren’s work was showcased in a Philippine fashion show in Rome.

The experience was a milestone for her, as it marked the debut of her collection made from handwoven Philippine textiles crafted from natural fibers. “I felt accomplished being able to complete a collection using those materials,” she said. The show received positive feedback, but when she returned to the Philippines, Typhoon Yolanda struck, devastating the piña-weaving communities she worked with.

“It was heartbreaking,” Ferraren reflected. “It felt like everything I had worked for was destroyed.”

Nonetheless, Ferraren’s resilience prevailed.

Instead of letting the disaster defeat her, she turned her focus to other local weavers and artists, using the experience as an opportunity to recover and rebuild.

“It was an organic growth,” she said, noting that challenges — like a 2019 building fire, the pandemic and the need to digitize her business — were part of the process.

“You learn to power through things or find other types of solutions.”

For Ferraren, perseverance is key.

“It’s important to surround yourself with people who have a solutions mindset and who will continue to cheer you on,” she said.

“Keep learning, bettering yourself and developing new skills and perspectives.” What motivates her, she explained, is the recognition of her art and the satisfaction of seeing her pieces in places she once dreamed about.

While she continues to believe in her passion and vision, Ferraren also stresses the importance of balancing creativity with financial responsibility.

“You have to calculate the risks,” she explained. “Know that something will always come to you at the right time and place when you’re ready.”

When asked for advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in art and business, she shared, “Keep going and bouncing back. Failures and mistakes will teach you thing, and help you see things from different perspectives. All great businesses are born from mistakes and iterations.”

Financial literacy, she added, is crucial.

“I learned by doing, which meant a lot of mistakes and painful expenses. If someone can explain financial principles in a way artists can understand, that would be invaluable.”

Today, Ferraren’s collections are available in various locations, including Atrium and PowerPlant Mall, and through her online presence on notjustlabel.com and social media platforms. Twinkle Ferraren and Style Isle continue to thrive in the fashion industry, driven by Ferraren’s commitment to both her clients and the local artisan communities she supports.

“Being able to sell and distribute my products both nationally and internationally assures me that my textile art, fashion and accessories are sustained — and that my partner communities are continually inspired and creative,” she said.

For Ferraren, the journey is not just about business success but about making a lasting impact through art and community collaboration.

Quick Questions

What is your greatest fear?

Not being able to accomplish my dreams. This is a little tough to answer because I moved to Baguio alone in the middle of the pandemic, I got used to being alone and dealing with many different things — snake inside my places, spiders, lots of brown out, no food, etc. And I had to learn to overcome them, haha!

What really makes you anrgy?

When people close to me trigger me (consciously or unconsciously).

What motivates you to work hard?

To be able to travel to destinations and eventually start

building the dream home.

What makes you laugh the most?

I cannot think of anything specific, but it can be a show, a scene, a meme or a person’s comment or action.

What do you want to be when you’re small?

I wanted to be an actress and appear in all the “Star Wars” movie series.

What would you do if you won the lotto?

How much is the lotto prize? hehe! But if ever, buy an island with a wild forest to protect these sacred nature spaces, plant more trees or contribute to more tree-planting and regenerative projects. Build green homes, and spaces and playgrounds, fund art/indigenous/culture projects of artist friends and community. Invest in the business expansion.

If you could share a meal with an individual, living or dead, who would they be?

Pacita Abad, maybe. I love her art and textiles! I would have loved to meet and talk to her!

What is the most daring thing you have ever done?

There have been a lot — solo travels usually give me the most diverse adventures with lots of daring things in between. Maybe also when I was in the United States when I learned to really live on my own and dared to keep carving my path, my dreams and my way… so many rough lessons, but they were lessons, and we grow and learn from them. If physical — indoor skydiving, zip lining in the falls in Lake Sebu… stuff like that… I love daring rides and activities!

What was the last book you read?

Oh no, I cannot remember! I have a lot I am reading, but they are all not done!

Sometimes, I have major ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or I get busy

and never get to finish them.

Which celebrity would you like to meet for a cup of coffee?

Keanu Reeves or maybe Heidi Klum.

What is the one thing that you will never do again?

It is hard to say never. What if it is situational? There are situations I hope never to be in again.

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

Here, there and everywhere — possibly more traveling again, with slightly longer duration in each destination to create some art and collaborations… but at the same time building my dream home in the Philippines — mountain and or beach.