| Biography |
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Crisanta Malig was born in Angeles City Philippines on November 1, 1942. Fashion Designing and sewing have been the
major elements of Crisanta’s life. Her mother was a seamstress and her father was a barber and an artist. In this
environment, she knew she had the tools and blocks to start a career. At the age of five, she was already making paper
dolls using cardboard and creating outfits using her mother’s remnants. She dressed all her dolls with style. She started
sewing at the age of seven but she learned that making clothes pattern was challenging but exciting. With her creativity,
she was able to accomplish this skill by using grocery bags, newspapers, old clothes and even bed sheets to create her
samples.
Crisanta’s achievements are countless. Between 1972 through 1979, she owned and operated a dress shop featuring
ready-to-wear fashion. She started with one sewing machine and expanded to 24 seamstresses within one year of
operation. Most of the garments were sold at some of the prominent department stores in Manila – Rustan, Cash and
Carry and Harrison Plaza Fashion Boutiques.
In 1979 she immigrated in the USA and started her own business. Crisanta worked with various Fashion Designers from
different cultures in San Francisco and with the fresh ideas in mind, she was able to utilize her creativity skills and have
matured and evolved as a Fashion Artist. She is known these days as one of the Haute Couture in the Bay Area and is
mostly known within the Filipino Community.
Between 1982 and 1992, Crisanta worked at New York Fabrics as a Workshop Instructor and taught dressmaking and
home decorating. Also in 1992, one of her customer had entered her name in a fashion designing contest. She won First
Runner-Up in the Designer of the Year Award held in the Bay Area for the main stream Fashion Designing Contest.
Inspired by winning this contest Crisanta founded Fashion Arts and Youth Enterprise in 1993. Main goal is to help young
emerging Fashion Artists develop their artistic abilities. She firmly believes that challenging their talents and abilities they
will work harder and believe in themselves more. The possibilities are endless, most specially for those under privilege
youth in the community. She is still the current Executive Director and Producer of the organization. The organization is
mainly for children ages 5 through 18 - teaching them the art of Fashion and the fundamentals of Visual Art. The kids in this
program are learning how to make casual and evening attires, costumes and purses.
The program started in her own home. After a year growing needs in this project, Crisanta had partnered with Daly City
Parks and Recreation Youth and Teen Services Program to provide more classes to the public. Classes are held 3 times
a week at two community center in Daly City. The class features some development skills such as – creative visualization,
pattern making, sewing, personality and character development. All the completed projects by the students are shown to
their families, friends and sponsors by holding a fashion show at the end of each program. The program is still being
funded by various foundations and corporations.
major elements of Crisanta’s life. Her mother was a seamstress and her father was a barber and an artist. In this
environment, she knew she had the tools and blocks to start a career. At the age of five, she was already making paper
dolls using cardboard and creating outfits using her mother’s remnants. She dressed all her dolls with style. She started
sewing at the age of seven but she learned that making clothes pattern was challenging but exciting. With her creativity,
she was able to accomplish this skill by using grocery bags, newspapers, old clothes and even bed sheets to create her
samples.
Crisanta’s achievements are countless. Between 1972 through 1979, she owned and operated a dress shop featuring
ready-to-wear fashion. She started with one sewing machine and expanded to 24 seamstresses within one year of
operation. Most of the garments were sold at some of the prominent department stores in Manila – Rustan, Cash and
Carry and Harrison Plaza Fashion Boutiques.
In 1979 she immigrated in the USA and started her own business. Crisanta worked with various Fashion Designers from
different cultures in San Francisco and with the fresh ideas in mind, she was able to utilize her creativity skills and have
matured and evolved as a Fashion Artist. She is known these days as one of the Haute Couture in the Bay Area and is
mostly known within the Filipino Community.
Between 1982 and 1992, Crisanta worked at New York Fabrics as a Workshop Instructor and taught dressmaking and
home decorating. Also in 1992, one of her customer had entered her name in a fashion designing contest. She won First
Runner-Up in the Designer of the Year Award held in the Bay Area for the main stream Fashion Designing Contest.
Inspired by winning this contest Crisanta founded Fashion Arts and Youth Enterprise in 1993. Main goal is to help young
emerging Fashion Artists develop their artistic abilities. She firmly believes that challenging their talents and abilities they
will work harder and believe in themselves more. The possibilities are endless, most specially for those under privilege
youth in the community. She is still the current Executive Director and Producer of the organization. The organization is
mainly for children ages 5 through 18 - teaching them the art of Fashion and the fundamentals of Visual Art. The kids in this
program are learning how to make casual and evening attires, costumes and purses.
The program started in her own home. After a year growing needs in this project, Crisanta had partnered with Daly City
Parks and Recreation Youth and Teen Services Program to provide more classes to the public. Classes are held 3 times
a week at two community center in Daly City. The class features some development skills such as – creative visualization,
pattern making, sewing, personality and character development. All the completed projects by the students are shown to
their families, friends and sponsors by holding a fashion show at the end of each program. The program is still being
funded by various foundations and corporations.
| Crisanta Malig | crisanta@crisantamalig.com Copyright 2005, Crisanta. All Rights Reserved |
