Michael Carandang
When Michael Carandang decided to come home and continue his career in the Philippines two years ago, having served as a producer for The Tyra Banks Show and Asia’s Next Top Model, he didn’t quite know what was in store for him.
Now, aside from being a producer, Michael is a director for a slew of lifestyle shows, including the soon-to-be-aired It takes Gutz to be a Gutierrez, which features the Gutierrez family. In the “Sneakers Clash” event by Converse held at Ayala Terraces Fairview recently, Michael was officially introduced as Jack Purcell Creative Curator.
“I’m really fortunate and thankful because I would not have said yes if I didn’t really love them,” says Michael on being a brand ambassador for Converse. “I’ve always been a fan of the brand. I am a supporter.”
Back in college, Michael sported Chucks as his fashion staple and eventually transitioned to the line of collaborations between Converse and fashion designer John Varvatos when he began working. “What I love about Converse is that it follows your journey in life,” he says. “As you reach more success in life and as you become older, you can also upgrade your sneakers.”
Michael, who doesn’t consider himself as an “office-type of person,” likes the fact that the Jack Purcell line is “something that I can wear either inside or outside the office.” It is so flexible design-wise that he can also wear a Jack Purcell pair to a black-tie event. For the Pinoy Pride Ball on June 12, Michael would wear a formal attire matched with a pair of Converse/John Varvatos sneakers.
“What is great about certain brands, especially about Converse, is its spirit of collaboration,” says Michael. “The brand matches my brand in a way that I too engage with the creatives and the influencers in my field.”
Michael adds that Converse has ingrained itself thoroughly in the culture that it readily conveys a fashion statement, something that even that corporate folks like himself is drawn to. “There is a certain feel of the brand,” says Michael. “You automatically feel hipper. By wearing Converse, you make a statement that tells people a bit about your personality. Or if you don’t have that personality, it gives you that personality.”
A bold personality that is. Aside from taking on different genres (from a home design show to a talk show to a reality show), Michael is also not afraid to speak his mind in various social media platforms where he has growing followers by the day. For him, “posting and talking about Converse” is no sweat since he thoroughly believes in the brand.
Leaving the States for the Philippines is a revelation for Michael who welcomes each and every day with an excitement. “It’s so nice that in the span of two years that I’ve lived here, I’ve grown so much as a person, I’ve grown so much as a TV producer,” he says. And with Converse, specifically Jack Purcell, by his side, Michael is emboldened to reach much greater heights.