Pusô accessories open door to the world for DBTC teacher

Grace Neilly Querickiol Niggel, owner of GracieQ Creative Designs, continues to hone her craft by studying in a fashion school in Milan, Italy (right photo). Above are samples of her fashion accessories and bag with her signature pusô design.
CDN PHOTOS/CRIS EVERT RUFFOLO

GRACIEQ CREATIVE DESIGNS

Grace Neilly Querickiol Niggel took a “leap of faith” to fuel her passion for arts and crafts and established GracieQ Creative Designs in 2007.

Her interest started when her friend, who was in the fashion accessories business, inspired her to hone her God-given talent.
With a capital of P1,000, the initial operation was out of a small space inside Don Bosco Technological Center (DBTC) in Barangay Labangon, Cebu

City where she was teaching values education.

“I’ve always liked designing, making fashion accessories. I dreamed of having my own shop, but I set it aside because I felt it was not the proper timing,” she said.

Dedon collaboration

Then an opportunity to collaborate with famous furniture company, Dedon, came through the DBTC.

The collaboration involved the recycling of Dedon’s scrap plastic fiber from making outdoor furniture through the SCOPE or Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership for Local Development program.

The program is a joint initiative of the German Agency for International Cooperation or GIZ (then German Development Service) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and implemented at the DBTC.

Under SCOPE, Dedon found a partner in DBTC, which was training young men and women to learn different skills such as carpentry and welding, skills that could provide them job opportunities.

Pusô as inspiration

“I thought about what product can we make out of this plastic fiber. Immediately, I thought of the pusô because it involves weaving. We can make fashion accessories from the material,” said Niggel.

With the pusô or the hanging rice as her inspiration, she went on an intensive product development exercise and came up with earrings, bracelets, necklaces and key chains.

All of which have the pusô as the central piece.

Niggel received orders from local organizations who found a unique product in her pusô accessories. The youth of DBTC became her weavers. Two of them, Angelita Crismal and May Jabonero, currently serve as the administrative head and production head of GracieQ.

Business expands

As the business progressed, she expanded her community of weavers and makers to women in Barangay Bagalnga, Compostela in northern Cebu, who were beneficiaries of Dedon’s housing project. Six of the 15 women who were initially trained underwent an extensive enhancement program so they could serve as quality control personnel.

Just recently, she trained drug surrenderers at the Mandaue Drug Rehabilitation Center to be part of her network of community partners.

“I do business not just because I want to make money. There is a higher purpose why GracieQ exists. I make sure that I grow with my communities,” she said.

Manila, US, Europe

Opportunities to showcase her products in Manila opened for GracieQ.

Late last year, she expanded to bags and purses made of abaca, jute, buri palm fiber and straw. Embellishments are made of kamagong wood, shell pusô, sinamay and cracked shell.

Some of these creations are displayed in Rustan’s Department Store in Makati, Shangri-La Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, Pulchra Resort Cebu in San Fernando, Cebu and PhiloSophia Library Café in Mandaue City.

GracieQ Creative Designs are exported to the US and Europe.

Niggel continuously hones her craft to create pieces that are more reflective of her passion as an artist and dedication as a Filipino.

In 2015, she studied Fashion Business at Instituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy. Her classmates came from all over the world. At the end of the three-week course, Niggel said she discovered endless possibilities of beautiful things she can create with her bare hands.

Next year, she will launch the GracieQ brand in Milan.

Currently, GracieQ has four employees with an operations base in Barangay San Nicholas, Cebu City.