W/17 brings the scents of Mexico to Manila
For over two and a half centuries, the Manila Galleon trade linked the Philippines and Mexico over the Pacific Ocean. It blended cultures within the Spanish Empire through the trade of luxury goods and opened the minds of those involved by bringing them to the international stage. Andres Vazquez-Prada and Kaye Tinga have revived this cultural exchange by bringing an essence of Mexico here in Manila at W/17.
Since 2011, W/17 has prided itself on carrying a sophisticated, diversified mix of both Eastern and Western styles, as well as traditional and contemporary pieces, that feature exquisite craftsmanship and original design. Vazquez-Prada and Tinga have traveled the world to fill up their showroom with the most astounding decor suited for all interior design styles. W/17 is now showcasing the fragrances of the Mexican brand Coqui Coqui, and through it the spirit of their travels and adventures from a recent trip across the Pacific.
The products of Coqui Coqui are all natural and inspired by their home, the Yucatan Peninsula. It is said that the area has a centuries-old history of perfume production starting with the Franciscan monks who arrived with the wave of colonization and were amazed by the flowers and herbs the new world had to offer. The rich and exotic Mayan flora include the sweet scents of lavender, the sophisticated aroma of agave, as well as the elegant but subtle scent of tobacco leaves.
Founder and creative director Nicolas Malleville and his team combine such exotic, tropical fragrances to fuse together the old formulas of the Franciscan monks with the legacy of ancient Mayan medicine. A whiff of any of their resulting scents can transport you to the dazzling beaches of Tulum on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza, and a colonial history filled with traditions as colorful as its capital of Merida.
Visit W/17 at La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Chino Roxas Ave., Makati City, or call 4781-717.