Tina Maristela-Ocampo: Celestina’s prophecy
March 18, 2007 | 12:00am
Tina Maristela-Ocampo needs no introduction in the fashion world. Heralded as one of the finest models in Philippine history, Tina has found even greater success as an international bag designer. Already top celebrities who have been spotted using her brand Celestina (Ocampo’s Christian name) are: Halle Berry for People’s Choice Awards, Drew Barrymore for Golden Globes (she won the "Best Dressed Awards" that night), singer Alicia Keys and actresses Gabrielle Union and Sandra Bullock (who carried it for the Designer’s Council Awards).
"I had the idea of doing something in New York since I go very often to check on my eldest, Betina, who is studying in Connecticut. In the process of being bored one day in October 2005, I went on a study expedition on evening bags in all my favorite stores in New York (Barneys, Bergdorf, Jeffrey, Kirna Zabete). In the meantime, my husband Ricco has been doing some houseware stuff using Philippine materials. When I came home, I asked one of his manufacturers, who was skilled to do tables and boxes, to do for me a jewelry box type of clutch. I roughly drew my design putting a clasp on the top and a hinge on the bottom part. Of course it looked nothing like a clutch  so refinements were done until I was able to do a 25-piece collection of minaudieres which I shot for a catalog and distributed it to stores I love to be in. Sadly, no one responded. To lift me a bit, Rafe Totengco, suggested that we show it to Vogue Accessory team. I took my chance and met up with seven editors and assistants. They held them, opened them, scrutinized and went around with them and said, ‘we love them!’ But then the question came, ‘Where in America do you sell?’ So I just looked blank and said nowhere in this world. Then the head editor asked me, ‘Where do you want to sell? You see, we can’t print you in Vogue if you’re nowhere in America.’ So, like a young girl, I said ‘Barneys!’ Surprisingly, she calls the CEO of Barneys through her mobile phone right that moment and asked for an appointment for me to show the collection. And the rest are stories of easy access to the best boutiques and department stores  an inspiring story I love to tell Filipinos about."
Tina says anything she does has got something to do with the beauty and talent found in the Philippines. Mother-of-pearl shells from the South, mahogany wood, shagreen skins and carabao bones are her favorite elements. Age-old techniques such as filigree (passed on by the Spaniards), hand-weaving and T’boli hand-painting from the mountains and stone-carving from Visayas  all these are incorporated in all Celestina minaudieres and handbags, fine jewelry, belts and her latest hit, sunglasses.
"I always tell the buyers and press: ‘I am not the only designer of my work, I share it with the nature that God blessed my country with and the Filipino artisans who helped me shape and mould all these beautiful things’," she says.
Tina is currently selling to Barneys in eight stores across America  Jeffrey’s, Kirna Zabete, Takashimaya in NY, Ikram in Chicago, 4510 in Dallas, Amaree in LA and many other specialty stores in America. She is also in Browns and Alamode in London. Celestina is likewise in Joyce Boutique in Hong Kong. The brand is also in specialty stores Aizel and Podium, which are both in Russia.
She has just recently concluded her Fall/Winter show in New York and Paris, and Tina and her husband were able to penetrate Neiman Marcus for 35 stores across America. "We got Celestina in a lot of stores in Europe (Ukraine, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Spain) and more stores in Japan."
Tina says at the end of each day after she has made a bag, she is able to help revive a dying art and a number of skilled Filipino workers to pursue a life with their families not elsewhere in this world but in their own homes. At the end of each season, Tina is able to tell the world how beautiful the Philippines is and how talented Filipinos are.
"Every night, before I sleep, I rest my mind and soul knowing I am fulfilling the purpose of my life. I am just an instrument to all these. God blessed me with this so I can inspire people," she concludes.
"I had the idea of doing something in New York since I go very often to check on my eldest, Betina, who is studying in Connecticut. In the process of being bored one day in October 2005, I went on a study expedition on evening bags in all my favorite stores in New York (Barneys, Bergdorf, Jeffrey, Kirna Zabete). In the meantime, my husband Ricco has been doing some houseware stuff using Philippine materials. When I came home, I asked one of his manufacturers, who was skilled to do tables and boxes, to do for me a jewelry box type of clutch. I roughly drew my design putting a clasp on the top and a hinge on the bottom part. Of course it looked nothing like a clutch  so refinements were done until I was able to do a 25-piece collection of minaudieres which I shot for a catalog and distributed it to stores I love to be in. Sadly, no one responded. To lift me a bit, Rafe Totengco, suggested that we show it to Vogue Accessory team. I took my chance and met up with seven editors and assistants. They held them, opened them, scrutinized and went around with them and said, ‘we love them!’ But then the question came, ‘Where in America do you sell?’ So I just looked blank and said nowhere in this world. Then the head editor asked me, ‘Where do you want to sell? You see, we can’t print you in Vogue if you’re nowhere in America.’ So, like a young girl, I said ‘Barneys!’ Surprisingly, she calls the CEO of Barneys through her mobile phone right that moment and asked for an appointment for me to show the collection. And the rest are stories of easy access to the best boutiques and department stores  an inspiring story I love to tell Filipinos about."
Tina says anything she does has got something to do with the beauty and talent found in the Philippines. Mother-of-pearl shells from the South, mahogany wood, shagreen skins and carabao bones are her favorite elements. Age-old techniques such as filigree (passed on by the Spaniards), hand-weaving and T’boli hand-painting from the mountains and stone-carving from Visayas  all these are incorporated in all Celestina minaudieres and handbags, fine jewelry, belts and her latest hit, sunglasses.
"I always tell the buyers and press: ‘I am not the only designer of my work, I share it with the nature that God blessed my country with and the Filipino artisans who helped me shape and mould all these beautiful things’," she says.
Tina is currently selling to Barneys in eight stores across America  Jeffrey’s, Kirna Zabete, Takashimaya in NY, Ikram in Chicago, 4510 in Dallas, Amaree in LA and many other specialty stores in America. She is also in Browns and Alamode in London. Celestina is likewise in Joyce Boutique in Hong Kong. The brand is also in specialty stores Aizel and Podium, which are both in Russia.
She has just recently concluded her Fall/Winter show in New York and Paris, and Tina and her husband were able to penetrate Neiman Marcus for 35 stores across America. "We got Celestina in a lot of stores in Europe (Ukraine, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Spain) and more stores in Japan."
Tina says at the end of each day after she has made a bag, she is able to help revive a dying art and a number of skilled Filipino workers to pursue a life with their families not elsewhere in this world but in their own homes. At the end of each season, Tina is able to tell the world how beautiful the Philippines is and how talented Filipinos are.
"Every night, before I sleep, I rest my mind and soul knowing I am fulfilling the purpose of my life. I am just an instrument to all these. God blessed me with this so I can inspire people," she concludes.
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