This Lola is one fine, stylish lady

When I think of Spain, I think of a culture full of great food, breathtaking architecture and, of course, trendy and timeless fashion. After all, it’s where fashion greats such as Manolo Blahnik, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, among many others, hail from. These icons and their brands have made global waves in the fashion world for years, and now another has come to start creating waves of her own right here in the Philippines with the fall 2013 collection launch from the self-named brand Lola Casademunt, now available only at Rustan’s Makati.

Describing herself as having an eye for what people want to wear, Dolores Casademunt, though more affectionately known as “Lola,” is still lively and designing away at 82. Though the business has been passed on to two of her daughters, Maite and Maria Mar Gasso, Lola remains in the game and continues to have her hand in designing the various dresses, scarves, bags, hats, and other accessories that the brand carries.

Fashion fun fact: Lola enjoys designing the clothes the most. Lola’s passion and dedication comes through clearly with every design and piece presented, from the geometric print dresses to the round stone, coral Swarovski earrings, to the printed canvas beach bags. Who’d have thought all this started from a small garage in the Barcelonan province of Cardedeu back in 1981? Following the death of her husband, Lola kept herself busy by designing handmade hair accessories, explaining, through her interpreter, that “Spanish women love wearing things in their hair.” Within two years, and with the help of an agent who discovered her creations, Lola Casademunt products could be bought all over Spain. It wasn’t long before the brand, with its colorful, unique flair, reached the UK, Greece, Japan, China, Dubai, and many other countries including the Philippines, a country marked as the brand’s first expansion into the South East Asian market.

“We were in a trade fair in Madrid and saw their stand,” said Zenaida Tantoco, president of Rustan’s Commercial Corporation, detailing the beginning of the relationship between Rustan’s and the Lola Casademunt brand. “We were invited to see their showroom in Barcelona, which is a one-hour flight away. Since we had time, we went and that’s where we met Lola and Maite.”

With clothes and accessories that compliment every woman, it’s easy to see how both the brand and Rustan’s Corporation create the perfect marriage of style and sophistication. Armed with variety that will “fit the profile of women aged 20 to 80 years,” it’s nearly impossible to not be able to find a chic handbag or eye-catching charm bracelet for you, whether you’re a woman who prefers style with comfort, or comfort with style.

“Lola Casademunt is a brand that transmits emotion through trendy style that will differentiate its customers and it fits perfectly with Rustan’s portfolio,” said Maite Gasso.

Lola Casademunt is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati.

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