Martine Cajucom
Creative Director, Manila
Martine was raised in Los Angeles and Manila, and has spent some time in India and Europe. After working on marketing campaigns for American Apparel, she landed her current role as the creative director of Sunnies Studios, an eyewear label that she runs with her cousins. Martine’s life and work are inspired by fashion, vintage icons and her favorite cartoons.
Your idea of happiness?
Happiness is seeing a new city skyline for the first time. The perfect pint of ice cream at midnight. I find happiness every day in the most mundane moments.
Your idea of misery?
Misery is doing the same thing every day for the rest of your life. In bad lighting. And in jeans that make you feel fat.
If not yourself, who would you be?
I wouldn’t mind being Beyoncé right now.
Your heroes?
My ten aunts who are all just as talented and crazy as the next.
What is your present state of mind?
Constantly in a state of lala land, honestly. Newly in love, enjoying the success of the first year of working for my own business and just humbled by how surreal it all feels. A gross amount of LML overload.
Bedside table books?
Anything about typography, Neutra and Eames books and weird fact compilations.
What do you do if you can’t sleep at night?
I watch a Stephen Hawking documentary if I can’t sleep. It’s interesting enough that I tune in for about ten minutes then zonk out.
Do you collect anything?
Hotel amenities. Bonus points if they’re the extra fancy kind, then I dip into the roaming carts.
What is the strangest thing you believed in as a child?
That you get pregnant from kissing with tongue. Definitely tells me I need to have that “talk” with my future kids much earlier on.
Favorite color?
The perfect swatch of coral. I can’t deal when I see it. I have to own it, whatever it is.
Favorite city?
Palm Springs.
What are your plans for this weekend?
Going on a road trip and shooting a lookbook for Sunnies Studios. And brunch, there’s always time for brunch.
Favorite song?
“Everything in Its Right Place,” by Radiohead.
Right or left-handed?
Right. Wouldn’t mind being a lefty just for conversation.
What is the best dish you can cook?
A lamb roast, brined in fish sauce. May sound gross to Westerners, but my mom taught me this technique and it’s amazing.
What is your middle name?
Maria. I never use it. In fact, I cringe a bit.
What do you do in your free time?
Force people to watch terrible sci-fi and zombie movies with me. And scour the net for flight deals for my next travel destination. And troll eBay with search term “Miu Miu Shoes 38.” Just dawned on me I may need more hobbies.