45 Years of Dressing the Filipina: How Homegrown Fashion Icon KARIMADON Built Its Legacy
Jun 27, 2025 • Kyzia Maramara
Jun 27, 2025 • Kyzia Maramara
In 1980, husband and wife Richard and Josie Go opened the doors to the first KARIMADON store in Virra Mall, Greenhills. Forty-five years later, this homegrown fashion label has become a pillar in the industry, a testament to enduring style and quality. KARIMADON has dressed girls in their first prom dress, walked down the aisle with countless brides, and graced high-brow red-carpet events. It’s where the working woman shops for her power ensemble, where the young girl discovers how to dress for every stage of life.
KARIMADON’s identity is deeply rooted in Filipino culture, with a keen eye on trends throughout time. With nearly five decades of fashion history, the brand recently marked this significant milestone with a special celebration: Casa KARIMADON.
Casa KARIMADON is a one-day anniversary celebration that showcases the brand’s rich history throughout the years. It transformed the Emilia House of Filipino Food restaurant into KARIMADON’s version of a doll house with dress fittings, designer consultations, and shopping.
During the event, guests had the opportunity to travel back in time to when KARIMADON first started.
The early ’90s saw its steady progress through branches in Metro Manila and key locations in Visayas and Mindanao. In the early 2000s, KARIMADON found muses in Filipina icons Marian Rivera and Bea Alonzo. Soon after, KARIMADON entered the e-commerce space and established online presences on leading shopping apps and sites. By the 2010s, KARIMADON found a balance between classic silhouettes and shifts in fashion dictated by a digital consciousness.
By 2015, KARIMADON had established locations in Indonesia, marking the start of its international presence, and participated in trade shows in Sydney and Dubai. It also participated in Vancouver Fashion Week in 2017. In 2019, the brand expanded through a franchise in Mindanao.
In 2024, as a preview of this year’s anniversary festivities, KARIMADON marked new firsts through a collaboration with Malingkat Weaves for New Weave by KARIMADON and their first mother-and-daughter collection entitled In Bloom.
Their second New Weave by KARIMADON is now available online. There’s the “Bituin” – a puff sleeve reversible Filipiniana bolero, and “Corazon” – a puff sleeves cover-up. Either of which can be a styling piece to a formal dress or a casual ensemble.
There is also “Kimi” which is an organza cover-up with a removable belt. “Leona” perfectly demonstrates how classic and contemporary styles merge in this collection. It is a puff-sleeve top and pants set featuring a custom abra binakol detail that can be worn as a set or styled separately, depending on one’s preference.
“Teresa” is a personal favorite. The knee-length dress features custom langkit weaves and spaghetti straps that allow you to design it however you want.
“This collection was made for the modern Filipina; confident, empowered, and proud of her roots. We envision women who value culture, style, and purpose wearing these pieces, whether for special occasions or everyday moments that call for elegance with meaning,” says Embi Nicolas, head designer of KARIMADON.
Aside from New Weave by KARIMADON, the brand also launched a premium fragrance collection, which quickly became a crowd favorite. These are available in-store.
ICYDK, KARIMADON offers more than just stunning ready-to-wear pieces; they now also provide exquisite custom designs for any special occasion. Casa KARIMADON recently served as the formal launch of the KARIMADON Custom Atelier, a pivotal step as the brand looks ahead to its next 45 years.
The Custom Atelier invites clients to experience the creation of truly one-of-a-kind designs, ensuring you stand out at any event. Their dedicated team of in-house designers is eager to collaborate with you, bringing your unique vision to life with unparalleled craftsmanship.
Find a KARIMADON shop near you for custom fittings. Follow KARIMADON on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to stay updated on the latest news. Log on to www.karimadonfashion.com for more.
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Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.
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