There are boutiques that speak well of Filipino retailers.
One of them is the Joanna Preysler boutique in Greenbelt 5 that carries bags, clutches, cuffs, bracelets and home accessories in exotic skins. Finding the right bag made of premium skin is tricky. You either get an overpriced one , or one that spells tacky and loud. But Joanna — one of Manila‘s most beautiful women — lives and breathes fashion, combines good taste, quiet elegance and right pricing, She also knows what women want.
“There are bags that follow trends, but as I always like to say, our bags are the anti-IT bag. That makes our bags exempt from all trends or seasons,” Joanna explains. “What women really want from bags is the combination of form and function — a bag that is comfortable to use and ergonomically correct. I have noticed that women want bags that will fit all things — phone, makeup, the daily gear that women can never leave home without. Once in a while, I get requests for certain styles — bags with detachable shoulder straps or clutches that can double up as body bags.”
There are three other like-minded Filipino boutiques that I like — Carbon, Tint and Eterno — which are obviously run by Joanna and her husband, Raul Francisco. Raul is the fearless , creative and pioneering retailer who showed us long before the foreign fast fashion brands came in,that Filipino brands can thrive and survive , serving a market that looks for superior quality and timeless design.
Carbon is their urban boutique with ready-to-wear classics with a twist.”We take the basics and play around with details, fabrics and textures to take them updated and relevant to today’s fashion. We have shirt dresses, tops, jackets and shoes that I myself love too wear,” says Joanna.
“Tint is our lifestyle, resort boho princess boutique that showcases breezy caftans, dresses a, tops and tunics. Tint is very girly-girl, very pretty but with a quiet sexiness to it,” explains Joanna who adds that clothes come in limited editions so you won’t bump into many other women wearing the same outfit.
Eterno is Raul’s answer to men asking for duffels, portfolios, wallets and accessories in exotic skins.
Raul and Joanna are hands-on retailers.”We love interacting with their customers and love feeling the pulse of what’s out there. That’s where we get our inspiration and energy. On any given day, you will find us in any or all of our stores.”
This retailing couple also loves being with their staff, making them understand their mission and philosophy. “We invest in people as much as we invest in our inventory. It’s about self-improvement and growth. Most of our staff have been with us from the beginning of Carbon 13 years ago. We strive to keep things positive, productive and on the path of constant growth and improvement.”
This a couple that knows how to pay it forward.
“There is a foundation that is close to my heart,” Joanna shares. “It is called Kalipay Negrense. They are a small foundation based in Bacolod, and they so desperately need funding. Since they are not in Manila, it is like ‘out of sight, out of mind’ — they do not get the same funding as the big foundations, so any small amount goes a long way. They run the whole gamut — they rescue, rehabilitate, and educate disadvantaged children. They give children hope, restore their dignity, and help them bloom into productive members of their community. They see these kids through with a very hands-on approach. Their head, Anna Balcells, is one of my heroes. She has sacrificed her very comfortable life here in Manila to be able to live among these children… it is her life’s mission and purpose. There is something truly beautiful about that and she makes me want to do more from my corner of the sky. All our four stores help them whenever we can, and this has given our organization a higher purpose.”
Raul and Joanna are my kind of Filipino retailers.
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