A time for style

It was such a beautiful time when Alessi watches were finally introduced to Manila at Mezzaluna in Serendra. At the event hosted by Angel Jacob, guests witnessed different people flaunt uniquely designed watches that reflected their personality. The watch brand, apart from being innovative and creative, is also durable and of premium quality as it is made only from the finest materials used in Alessi’s well-known expensive house and kitchenware.

Ovvian Castrillo represented the Arc Collection by British-Egyptian architect Hani Rashid. The elegance of the uniquely shaped Arc watches is only fitting for a representation by sculptor Castrillo.

Chef Nino Logarta showed off a simple timepiece from the Record Collection by renowned interior designer Achille Castiglioni. Chef JL Cang, on the other hand, flaunted a pink watch from the unisex Kaj Collection by designer and artist Karim Rashid. Both chefs and mainstays of Q TV’s cooking show Katoque said they hardly ever wear a watch but with the simple and functional Record and Kaj timepieces, they may possibly never be caught in the kitchen without them.

Young fashion designer Puey Quiñones presented the Callisto Collection by interior designer and graphic artist Stefano Pirovano. The collection’s aluminum case and distinctively shaped strap will truly draw style lovers to this piece of art.

Collections that were also featured included “Look No Hands” by artist and architect Ron Arad and “On Time Collection” by architect and designer Jorge Pensi.

Kiichi Miyahara and Kazuhiro Makayashiki of Seiko Instruments Inc. graced the event with NoCurfew and MYTYM ambassador James Younghusband.

(Alessi Watches are exclusively available at MYTYM Watch Hub, Selected NoCurfew Watch Stores, Rustan’s and the Alessi Boutique in Bonifacio High Street. For more information, log on to www.nocurfew.net)

Bravo Filipino designers!

Filipino creativity in fashion design hit the runway — the second in a series of shows promoting the genius that is Filipino — as models strutted down Greenbelt 5’s Fashion Walk. Mounted between the garden and the entrance to the new mall, the show’s long runway became the stage for the collections of Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales, Joe Salazar, Salvador Higgins, Nolie Hans, Patis Tesoro and Roy Gonzales.

Flowers and wings were the theme of Pitoy Moreno’s collection. His long gowns in pastel colors of blue, yellow and cream were layered with sheer fabrics. Accompanied with tribal music, the models of Ben Farrales donned floor-length skirts mixed with wrist-length tops in black fabrics contrasted by the colorful details of Muslim textiles. Patis Tesoro’s gowns were elegantly designed with floral embellishments sewn all over the dress. The works of Filipino fashion visionaries, such as Inno Sotto, Cesar Gaupo and Auggie Cordero, were also highlighted along with those of up-and-coming talents like Gian Romano, John Herrera and Melissa Dizon.

Designers who have made Greenbelt 5 their home such as Bea Valdes, Patrice Diaz, Amina Aranaz, Lulu Tan Gan, Lila Almario, Vic Barba, Butch Carungay, Kate Torralba and Arnel Papa also presented their collections.

Bravo Filipino is supported by Ayala Corp., Ayala Foundation, Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe, Honda Cars Makati, Integrated Microelectronics, Isuzu Automotive Dealership and Manila Water. 

(For more information on Bravo Filipino and the fashion show, please call 892-1801 or e-mail [email protected])

Rafe comes home

Rafe Totengco attended New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology in 1989. Five years later, the first collection of Rafe handbags made its debut in a SoHo boutique. Since then, the Rafe brand has grown to include women’s handbags, shoes, small leather goods and his line for men, too (which I proudly use). 

Rafe finally launched a store in Manila at Greenbelt 5 with his exclusive distributors Ricco and Tina Ocampo. His fashion retail consultant Mia Borromeo was also present to give him full support.  On hand to cut the ribbon were STAR columnists  Tingting Cojuangco and Mons Romulo-Tantoco, Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, Audrey Chiu and Myrza Sison. Guests nibbled on Kai’s food as women almost wiped out the stock in Rafe’s store.

Among the women in Hollywood who have used Rafe’s bags or shoes include Hayden Panettierre of Heroes, Mischa Barton, Vanessa Minillo, Lindsay Lohan, Desperate Housewife’s Eva Longoria-Parker, models Daria Werbowy and Adriana Lima, Grey’s Anatomy’s Sandra Oh, Mary Louise Parker, singer Mary J. Blige and Jessica Alba.

Check out Rafe at the ground floor of Greenbelt 5.

InterCon welcomes new GM

InterContinental Manila hosted a cocktail reception at the Bahia function room to bid farewell to outgoing GM Christian Pirodon, who has been appointed GM of InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, and to introduce his successor Charles Marshall. Marshall was GM of InterContinental Phnom Penh prior to his Manila assignment. A graduate of the University of Strathclyde, the Scottish Hotel School, he has also held the positions of GM for Crowne Plaza Jakarta, InterContinental Taichung, Taiwan and George InterContinental Edinburgh. He is conversant in French, Greek, Swahili and Bahasa Indonesia.

Ayala Corp. chairman emeritus Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala and wife Doña Bea, Ayala Land president Jaime Ayala and Ayala Hotels COO Al Legaspi representing InterContinental Manila’s owning company were on hand to wish Pirodon well and to welcome Marshall.

Guests included members of the diplomatic corps, the business community and media who were entertained by singer Dulce performing well-loved Filipino songs. Others spotted were Star EVP Grace Glory Go, People Asia and Allure editor Joanne Rae Ramirez, Ethel Timbol, Liza Ilarde, Donnie Ramirez, Albertito and Emily Lopez, Tony and Mita Rufino and painter/sculptor/printmaker Manuel Baldemor.