Digging up great finds at Archaeology
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What makes it unique is that most stores here are owned and run by people in the fashion industry — from fashion and accessory designers to graphic and makeup artists, the occasional musician, model, magazine editor and writer — moonlighting as shopkeepers.
On a regular day you might find Shu Uemura makeup artist Mickey See sitting in the corner of his bauble store Cru, or stylists Millet Arzaga and Noel Manapat giving fashion advice at Anthology, which they co-own with Chechel Joson and Luis Espiritu.
On busier days you might see the Team Manila boys Mon Punzalan and Jowee Alviar selling their homegrown wares.
Archaeology came about as a spin-off from the hip Rockwell Bazaar at the tent, when Power Plant invited the bazaar’s most popular tenants to have a permanent space within the mall.
To make up for the rent, a lot of the stores share spaces side-by-side, sometimes with no partition at all. The result is a lot of open space and modern décor.
This is where you can find ready-to-wear from designers like Ivar Aseron, Joey Samson and Gerry Katigbak at Anthology, Trisha Santos at Dressing Room, Reian Mata at Graxie, and Mitzi Quilendrino at Maud. Then there’s the sosy “ukay” — pre-owned clothes and accessories, some of which are reworked into unique items.
Composed of almost 30 stores, some of the cooler stores include David & Goliath, Evita Peroni, Ilaya Couture, Irene’s Closet, Team Manila, camadiV, GreyOne Social, Analog Soul, Anthology, Pilar, Tru, and more.
Archaeology’s recent launch was packed with local fashionistas and people from the “industry” who followed popular tour guide and blogger Carlos Celdran on a walking tour, while showing us different looks from the stores, created by stylist Michael Salientes.
