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The name “Michi Calica” is inextricably linked with bridalwear. But if you’re expecting a delicate creature, then prepare to be surprised. The designer is a petite dynamo whose perky energy is only matched by her tireless efforts for her business, which is almost two decades old.

This apprehension is familiar to Michi, something that she handles with the ease of long practice. Designing bridal apparel “is a collaboration [between designer and client]. I think my secret is I really listen to the bride...I do dresses that will be the best of you, a reflection of what you want on your big day,” she says. Over the years, she has also developed a comprehensive information sheet, so that clients can give her all the necessary details and attach pegs for reference. “It’s going to be all about you: What are you expectations? What are your flowers? What are you dancing to? This is [how] I get my inspiration. Because you get so personal with who you’re going to design for, it’s impossible not to be inspired. I also think you have to be genuinely concerned.”

When it comes to dealing with her varied clients as a designer, Michi Calica has three guideposts:

1. Service is something that she takes seriously. To be good at it, “you need tons of discipline. You might think that as a designer, you can do what you want. But you have to be good with time, good with deadlines, good with commitment. You also have to be very dedicated to your clients. These are the people who help you grow your company, aside from the people you work with,” she points out.

2. Budget is also a concern, and Michi has price ranges from which her bridal wear clients can choose. “I have the silver, gold and platinum [categories]. Platinum [includes] the top-end fabrics, more intricate silhouettes, patterns, and beading. A lot of times when [we get email] inquiries, we ask them what their working budget is. If they send me pegs and I feel I really can’t do it, I have to tell them.” And while her bespoke gowns cost an average of P75,000, Michi is willing to adjust her fees to satisfy what she calls “the artist in me.” She relates, “Sometimes...I meet a person and I like her. Even if her budget is P45,000... but what she’s asking for is doable [and] I don’t think she’ll be any problem, I’ll just take it.”

3. Schedule Adhering to an agreed-upon schedule is also crucial. Because creating custom-made clothes can be “very tedious,” involving a lot of back and forth for approval and revisions, “a comfortable timeline is six months. If you’re from abroad, 12 months,” she observes. Michi, who deems herself “a schedule freak,” is a firm believer in being on the dot, all the time. “[People] have to know that if you promise something, you have to deliver when you say you will. Whether it’s to the supplier, to the client, to the bank. Nobody’s going to want to deal with you if you don’t.”