How would you describe your style? Never too dressed-up but never too dressed down. There’s comfort in the way I dress and I always think about that when I design styles for my sustainable clothing brand, Conrado.

Do you remember the first thing you made? For my brand, it was the Wynn Jumpsuit that is still one of my bestsellers. As a child, I remember always being surrounded by crafty supplies - beads, glue, paint, markers. That was playtime.

Before I started making I… I was designing but not for myself. I was working as a full-time fashion designer for a big retail brand in San Francisco. I found it hard to find time to fully enjoy designing for myself and eventually that pushed me to work on my own things.

If I weren’t a maker I’d be... I couldn’t imagine a life without creating.

Favorite quote or words to live by: ‘Well done is better than well said’ and ‘Ride the waves.’

If I could run away I’d go… I’d live in a house that is at the end of a very long dirt road with a yard that leads to the beach.

If you could collaborate with one person dead or alive who would it be? I could definitely imagine a textile collaboration with Agnes Martin.

What would be on your maker’s soundtrack? I don’t know why but listening to the Bee Gees the past few weeks has been fun and relaxing. Maybe I heard it a lot growing up. I do like to listen to an old disco.

If you could learn a new skill what would it be? I would love to learn more about typography and graphic design. Maybe more on marketing too. Skills that I think each maker also needs to promote their work.

What is your perfect day? A day with no plans but starts with a slow morning. Taking the time to cook some delicious breakfast then letting the day take me wherever.

Last book you read? Jenny Slate’s Little Weirds

Favorite scent? Palo Santo. Freshly peeled tangerines. Freshly baked bread.

Favorite podcast? I just finished Dwell’s Magazines RM-3: Raw Materials 3 Ways podcast. The episodes were easy to listen to. It's about the science and use of common building materials. My fiancé and I are starting to design our house and it's great to learn about it. I like to learn about the materials I use in the clothing I design. I figured I should learn more about the materials we would be using to build our home.

What was the last gift you gave someone? Sourdough starters and face masks.

If money was not a factor how would you live your life? Give more back, travel to places I have never been, and keep learning new skills.

Best piece of advice you have ever received? Always take care of yourself first.

Where did you grow up? I was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Philippines. I lived in Manila my whole life and all my summers and most holidays would be spent in San Francisco. This happened all throughout my life until I decided to move to San Francisco for college. Now, I try to spend most of the winter months in the Philippines to work with the artisans who produce clothing in our family garment workshop that my mother started over 40 years ago.

Favorite holiday? My family in the Philippines never celebrated Thanksgiving but now that I live in New England, there’s just something exciting about fall cooking!

What is your most treasured possession? My custom ocean-inspired engagement ring.

Most interesting thing in your liquor cabinet? My fiance takes care of the bar but I love getting him different kinds when I travel like a Japanese Nikka Whiskey dressed in a samurai armor.

Favorite thing to cook? Cooking is a form of therapy for me. A sourdough country loaf, meatballs, Filipino food like arroz caldo, and chicken adobo are some of my favorite things to cook. Lately, with the limited runs to the grocery store, I’ve been cooking a lot more and it’s fun to stretch out food, kind of force myself to think out of the box, and use up everything. It’s been fun making things from scratch. Lots of foraging too and this is leading to building our garden.

What are you most thankful for? Life, the lessons it teaches and the joy that comes with it.

To see more from Conrado visit, www.shopconrado.com or Instagram @shopconrado

*Portrait by Zivah Solomon