Gold and grit: 2 self-made stories worth wearing

What do a streetwise bag-maker and a jewelry-loving mom have in common?

- By MILLIE MANAHAN

More than you'd think.

In a market overrun by mass production and algorithm-driven trends, two Filipino entrepreneurs are building quietly—and by hand. One stitches his hustle into a weather-worn canvas. The other turns karats into confidence.

Meet Marvin Corpuz, the skater behind Sackit Philippines, a brand known in underground bike and skate circles for its hand-sewn, street-smart bags. And Ryza Razo, the woman redefining what it means to "wear your wealth" through her fast-growing jewelry line, Sparkles.ph.

Their crafts couldn’t be more different. But both stand on the same ground: self-made, purpose-built, and unmistakably Filipino.

He sewed through the noise

Marvin didn’t plan on becoming a bagmaker. He just needed a way to carry his skateboard into places that didn’t want it.

"Bawal sa mall. Bawal sa tren. Kailangan nakatago (You couldn't bring skateboards into malls or on the train. They had to be hidden)," he says.

So he made a bag. Then a friend wanted one. Then another. By 2011, Sackit Philippines was born.