Jun-G Candelario: Flooding Iloilo with his Vision for Kagayon

Jun-G Candelario with muse, Ria Bolivar

One of the mainstays of the annual Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair, Jun-G Bayona Candelario has gone far from being a festival costume designer in his hometown in Lemery, Iloilo to one of the city’s most-sought after full-fledged fashion designer.

The less flamboyant and soft-spoken Jun-G as he is fondly called, made his debut as a fashion designer when he was 22. Using his knowledge in basic dress-making as an elective during his high school days at Lemery National High School, he showcased his very first gowns and festival attires in local pageants where he has made his mark and has emerged as an entrepreneur to reckon with. The years since then in between had been wonderful for him.

In 2011, the persevering Candelario moved to Iloilo and in those years he learnt the art of doing business even whilst stamping his own creative identity, maintaining a unique individuality through his designs, learning a bit of math and accounting, and, of course, how to make profits.

Supermodel Ria Bolivar in hablon gown

As a graduate of BS Architecture at the University of San Agustin, his gowns show classic architectural lines, albeit with splashes of bright colors evident in most gowns, heavily beaded empire-waist dresses, strappy shifts inspired by the scalloped roof of old houses and buildings. His designs have touches of Victorian and yet is Bohemian and carefree.

His first-ever solo show in 2012 for the 5th Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair at the event center of SM City Iloilo showcased hablon and polyhemp long gowns with feathers and glittering bead embellishments abound emphasizing a strong shoulder. His collections left the audience wanting for more.

Joining fashion shows is like a creative outburst for this very humble fashion designer. He simply loves experimenting and making out-of-the-box stuff. His designs have some sort of commercial viability even if it is on ramp.

Ria Bolivar in polyhemp gown for 

Jun-G Candelario

Presently, he has his own solo design studio at Reginaville Building, Jalandoni Street, Jaro, Iloilo City. But he has set his eyes on marketing his designs to reach more customers not only here in Iloilo but even going globally. He hoped to target customers who would wear his designs because they are modern and edgy and yet remind them of his cultural roots.

The 7th Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair is a Trade Fair, Demonstration and Fashion Show event held at the Event Center of SM City Iloilo on October 5-11, 2014. October 5 at 4:30 p.m. will feature a Fiber Parade by Miagao-LGU and Lexter Badana at 5:30 p.m.; October 6 will have Ian Jorda at 5:30 p.m.; October 7 will feature a Fiber Parade with the candidates of Miss RPT Amnesty 2014 and Binky Pitogo at 5:30 p.m.; October 8 will showcase the collections of John Montinola at 5:30 p.m.; October 9 at 4:30 will have Hablon Duenasanon by Duenas-LGU; and October 11 at 5:30 p.m. will highlight the collections of Joseph Aloysius Montelibano. The event is brought to you by the Iloilo Provincial Government through the Provincial Tourism Office, DOT-VI, SM City Iloilo, Megaworld Iloilo Business Park, GMA-6 Iloilo and the Daily Guardian.