TASSELS, FEATHERS, pompoms, and colors dominated Manila FAME’s fashion halls at the World Trade Center last week. Following global trends in clothes and fashion accessories, seen at the exhibition were an abundance of beaded and woven slip-on shoes, and bags of all shapes and sizes embroided with parrots and tropical trees and embellished with pompoms or tassels.
The products were are all handmade, unique, reasonably priced, and used local materials like shells, abaca, rattan, and beads.
Manila FAME hosted more than 350 micro, small, and medium enterprise, showcasing home, lifestyle, and fashion products from established and emerging talents.
“The crafts of a country are reflective of its culture. Today, we are at a crossroads between innovation and tradition, but it does not have to be one or the other. We want to nurture the cultural identity of our exhibitors and encourage forward thinking as they develop new products,” said Clayton Tugonon, executive director of CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions), the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
According to DTI data from a press release, the country’s total external trade in goods in July reached P611 billion from P597.6 billion from the same month last year.
The trade show, which is projected to earn over $843 million this year from its exhibitions in April and this month, is a platform for enterprises that want to make it big abroad. Some of their markets include the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea.
Here are a some of the brands that caught BusinessWorld’s fancy for their unique take on the trendy. While the three-day event may have ended yesterday, you can still check their Web sites and physical stores. — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
Larone
While meant for a Japanese audience, Larone stands out from Japan’s cutesy stuff because its products are unique, timeless, and very Filipino, in the sense that the materials are local and spell “tropical.”
Price: P4,000
Web site: www.laronecrafts.com
Zacarias
Zacarias has circular backpacks made of water hyacinth, leather, or rattan. No design is the same. Each bag is handcrafted by master weavers in a Manila workshop founded in 1925 by the grandmother of the brand’s creative director.
Price: P9,000
Web site: www.zacarias1925.com
Adanté
Adante Leyesa, the brand’s founder, helps unknown artists by collaborating with them in making unique handbags. Mr. Leyesa creates bags and accessories using local materials, which he exports in Japan and Switzerland. Part of the company’s expansion plans is to include the rest of Europe. Locally, the colorful pieces are available at Adora in Greenbelt 5, and Amanpulo resort in Palawan.
Price: P16,000 — P20,000
Web site: www.adantecollections.com
Island Girl
Fresh from Mandaue, Cebu, the Island Girl comes to the city bringing island colors and injecting them into woven bags and statement earrings. Its collection of handbags with parrots are unique and cute.
Price: P2,750
Web site: www.islandgirlph.com
Tali Handmade
Tali’s collection of handcrafted bags and shoes are all made from plastic straw. Its latest collection of shoes, which is its take on the trendy flat slip-on mules, are made of straw and leather. It exports to New York City.
Price: P4,850
Web site: www.talihandmade.com
Yvette’s Bags and Beads Collection
One would have a hard time choosing between all the bags of different sizes, shapes, and colors at this store from Davao City. But the most eye-catching is a handbag with tassels on it that can double as home decor.
Price: P2,500
Earl Gariando
Feathers found their way into the earrings and necklaces at Earl Gariando’s handcrafted accessories. The statement necklaces are the perfect exclamation points to otherwise boring outfits.
Price: P5,500
Store: Greenbelt 3
