FASHION HOUSES CELEBRATE CRAFT AT MILAN DESIGN WEEK
MILAN, Italy — Aspiring to be more relevant for the times, fashion houses presented new home collections during Milan Design Week, setting out to prove that the art of living is something that never goes out of fashion, just as finely crafted pieces will always be desirable.
To live life fully, we have learned to slow down and appreciate the things that matter. Slow Design is valued more than ever, with the realization that quality pieces take time and care to create, from conceptualization and design to the actual crafting and finishing, not to mention being mindful of ethical and environmental practices.
Slow Design is actually much like the Slow Food movement and just as it takes time to cook delicious dishes, we also should set aside quality time to appreciate them with loved ones. These precious moments together are enhanced even more with beautiful tableware, as well as furniture pieces that look good and on which we can sit comfortably to enjoy a meal.
This is something the duo of Dolce & Gabbana know only too well, saying, “A lunch is an opportunity to share without haste” to explain their obsession with chairs, which for them symbolize hospitality. With their furniture and homeware, the focus is on the Italian fatto a mano: “the small stitch, the woven straw, the mosaics, the handpainted ceramics, as well as the lacquering, the basis of almost all the furniture, and the brass processing — incredible skills linked to a knowhow.”
Just like their clothes, their home collections are nothing short of exuberant, with sunny colors and lively prints, from the Blue Mediterraneo collection of sea motifs to Caretto’s Sicilian aesthetics and Maiolica-like patterns.
Roberto Cavalli, a house also known for its prints, released the Queen of Cavalli chair in 20 limited-edition pieces designed by creative director Fausto Puglisi. Combining classic rigor with pop irreverence, it has a neoclassical frame of carved black wood upholstered in animal prints and florals that explode with bright shades of yellow, red, purple and emerald green.
Versace, another brand known for bold designs, used shades of red and lush fabrics like silk, leather and jacquards in its latest La Medusa collection, which included sofas, beds, and a Trono armchair in vinyl covering. Their Secret Garden space debuted the Stiletto outdoor series with vivid shades of lime green, Klein blue and fuchsia.
Dior asked Philippe Starck to put his spin on its signature Louis XVI Medallion Chair. With his characteristic sexy minimalism, he created Miss Dior, “a homage to a certain type of femininity,” refining the original silhouette to its purest extreme that is further accentuated by the lightness of aluminum.
Lightness was actually the theme of Hermès for its most awaited annual presentation. Four large structures modeled on water towers and covered in translucent colored paper were mounted to house the products.
“We took inspiration from the house’s theme for 2022 — lighthearted,” says artistic director Charlotte Perelman. “It’s reflected in the materials we used, as well as the simplicity of shapes and the colors, which bring a lighthearted spirit.” Home textiles in cashmere explored various craft techniques: Plaids were made from strips combined in a patchwork motif by the artist Carson Converse; panels were joined through relinking, a technique borrowed from couture; and the finest woven cashmere was used as a canvas for fine stitching expressive tactile geometrics. For the Pli’H table centerpieces, patterns were hand-painted on delicately folded leather. Furniture also employed artisanal work: The Oria chair by Rafael Moneo had curved oak, canework and leather detailing, while Alvaro Siza’s Karumi stool has a leather seat on a cane frame. Tomas Alonso’s Coulisse lamp in bamboo and parachute fabric exemplifies lightness itself. Louis Vuitton celebrated its 10 years of Objets Nomades furniture and objects with new and continuing commissions created by 14 international designers that include Patrica Urquiola, India Mahdavi and Tokujin Yoshioka. Three new chairs by Swiss design studio Atelier Oï feature seats made of strips of leather held together by brass buckles inspired by the house’s bags. Bamboca, a modular sofa by the Campana brothers, is inspired by cloud shapes, while the Cosmic table by Raw Edges is composed of a carbon-fiber base and upholstered with LV’s signature leather treated for indoor and outdoor use. A reimagining of the essential sprit of the Maison’s 160-year-old “Art of Travel,” the pieces show an attention to inventive design, functionality, fine craftsmanship and unparalleled savoir-fare — values that matter most in the living sector today. The importance given to craft is also bolstered by the need for sustainability and environmental consciousness. Loewe presented “Weave, Restore, Renew” to highlight manual labor and the art of breathing new life into discarded objects by using the ancient Galician woven-straw technique of coroza. On display were sculptural raincoats alongside 240 baskets sent to artisans around the world to be repaired using leather strings. Stella McCartney, Cole & Sons and B&B Italia collaborated on a mushroom-inspired collection that included McCartney’s bags made of mycelium (the root system of fungi), the Le Bambole B&B Chair made with conscious materials and rendered in McCartney’s hand-drawn Fungi Forest print, and sustainable wallpaper by Cole & Sons with the same print. The presentation drove home the point that fashion has to be responsible and should not be produced at the planet’s expense.
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SotoGrande Hotel along Katipunan Avenue stands out as a cozy new destination that has everything you need in your “city getaway.” It impresses the moment you enter its grand, sophisticated lobby, greeted by its friendly front desk officers — definitely a preview of a great staycation ahead of you.
Head up to your well-appointed rooms where you can freshen up before going out or just stay, watch some TV and catch up on some much-needed sleep. You can choose from the different room categories here, all of which are equipped with features that are sure to guarantee a restful stay — starting with the comfy beds, fluffy pillows and bathroom for a rejuvenating bath after a long and tiring day.
You don’t even have to go out, as SotoGrande Hotel Katipunan offers a sumptuous, appetizing selection of dishes that is sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate.
After filling up, head out and rediscover the many treasures this area has to offer. Drive around and visit various places of interest that make Katipunan a famous destination — from its churches, parks, and universities, to the nearby museums.
Once you’re done, you can easily go back to your hotel for some quick cardio at the gym (if you haven’t burned all those calories from touring Katipunan), or better yet, take a quick, refreshing dip in the pool.
That’s guaranteed to soothe your aching muscles.
Head over again to SotoGrande’s resto for a light, early dinner before you cap it off with a cocktail or two with friends at the hotel’s amazing roof deck. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset from this vantage point, or you can simply admire the view of the scenic cityscape from the deck.
This roof deck is such an incredible space to be in — to have that unobstructed, breathtaking, 180-degree view of the city! It’s the perfect spot for that romantic date you’ve been planning, or for an intimate party among family and closest friends. The hotel and its staff will be more than willing to help you achieve that fun, memorable celebration you so deserve.
After a day of nonstop fun and adventure, head to your room for a restful sleep so you can wake up feeling recharged and ready for another day of adventure. You can actually start with a quick gym session before you check out and face another day.
Indeed, a stay at Sotogrande Hotel Katipunan allows you to take a breather, especially after being asked to stay home during the pandemic. It’s a great first staycation spot for friends and families who merely want to have a good time or create new memories.
Sotogrande Hotel Katipunan is built and operated by trusted developer Sta. Lucia Land Inc. The company’s parent company, the Sta. Lucia Group, has been in the real estate business for more than five decades and has since built and completed over 250 projects across the country.
For information, call 0917-1258847 or email katipunansotogrande@gmail.com
It was quite a sight: all of the Philippines’ retail and dining stars in one place, delighted to see each other again — catching up, laughing, and networking. Ayala Malls — represented by Ayala Land chairman and Ayala Corporation CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land president and CEO Bobby Dy, and Ayala Malls president Chris Maglanoc — recently flew 180 of their top merchants to Lio in El Nido, Palawan, for an appreciation event that turned into an all-night party.
We chatted with Xandra Ramos of National Book Store at Ayala’s Air Swift lounge while waiting for our flight to El Nido. Rikki and Beng Dee of Foodee Global Concepts soon came in.
At Seda Lio we saw Rustan Commercial Corporation president Donnie Tantoco, Ivan Yao of Lucerne, actor/ restaurateur Marvin Agustin, chef Florabel Co-Yatco, and Cecile Zamora of Pepper Lunch. At dinner we were seated next to Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo of Wildflour and her husband, Jay Jay de Ocampo.
While this kind of Ayala event was previously based around competition and awards, this time around it was more relaxed, poised to assure merchants of a closer relationship going forward, post-pandemic.
We could see that top merchants there felt the love, in a fireworks-filled poolside party themed “Constellations to Tomorrow,” outlining the interconnected nature of Ayala’s food and retail “stars” and future growth.
We asked Fernando Zobel de Ayala how these merchants are selected and what he values most about them, and he replied, “While financial performance does carry some weight, so do other factors that play crucial roles in ensuring sustainability and forging long-term relationships. These include, for example, shared values and common goals; an openness to collaboration and the corresponding ability to do so constructively; visionary leadership that makes a difference in, and elevates, the retail scene; and risk-taking concept differentiation able to break new grounds and open up opportunities for other players.
“At Ayala Malls, we consider revenue generation as a natural outcome of these factors. They are by no means secondary to the bottom line. This event demonstrates our sincere appreciation to everyone who has been with us through successes and stumbling blocks amid changing regulatory and health landscapes and in the thick of concerted efforts to regain and redefine growth horizons altered by a global pandemic.”
In such a pandemic Ayala faced a choice: whether to be the hardnosed landlord focused on the bottom line or share the burden with their tenants, and Zobel chose the latter, which was much appreciated by their merchants.
As he said during poolside remarks: “Early on in the crisis, (Ayala Land president) Bobby Dy asked me, ‘Fernando, how do we play this? Do we stick to our interests, which might really hurt the merchants? Or do we share the pain together?’ And of course, I said ‘Let’s share the pain together.’”
Rustan Commercial Corp. president Donnie Tantoco says, “What makes Ayala different is they not only want to be part of the economy, they really want to be a true part of the community. They want to create that place where the merchants’ lives will be upgraded, more convenient, but also they can grow even more from there.”
After Zobel’s comment about “sharing the pain” the previous night, Tantoco reflected, “I think they were taking a bit more than 50 percent of the pain. They weren’t sharing all of it, but they were taking at least another bullet.”
Going forward, he sees Ayala’s willingness to adapt as a major plus: “We’ve always felt that they know retail enough to know how to find a win-win. Speaking of resilience and survival, they’re genuinely curious about brand evolution, and when they hear a good idea, they adjust. They’re not ‘one size fits all.’ They want to make sure that their tenant doesn’t do mediocre stuff and play it safe.”
RETAIL VS. DINING
Dy noted that foot traffic was up to 92% of pre-pandemic levels at the malls, so we asked Zobel whether retail or dining was more responsible for that.
“Both retail and dining drive traffic to the malls,” he replied. “What we have consistently observed, however, is that the power to draw crowds is directly tied to one’s capacity for innovation. “Acustomer’sexperienceisacentral determinant of success in an individual retail space. A business can make itself stand out only by proving that a visit will lead to an experience that is unique and pleasurable.
“In a fast-paced environment characterized by individual experiences more frequently being magnified through social media, being simultaneously innovative and share-worthy has become an essential skill for adeptly navigating
Othe ‘new normal.’ It therefore does not matter whether one is in retail or dining: wherever space enhances the experience, the cadence of repeat visitors is reinforced and amplified.” ne such establishment is Wildflour, whose customer base is vast and loyal. CEO Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo recalls that Wildflour was invited to surround Louis Vuitton’s first-ever flagship store in Manila as part of the revamp of Greenbelt 3. “We were awarded the beautiful and iconic central space in the atrium, and despite all the challenges when the pandemic hit, we, together with Ayala Malls, made Wildflour Greenbelt a reality.” Even amid the quarantine restrictions, “We were able to open our first-ever restaurant in an Ayala development last December, to cap off a strong 2021.”
It’s become one of their busiest branches since, “thanks in part to Ayala and Greenbelt’s unwavering support, especially with helping with the grand re-launch of our trademark Retro Night events, which have been a runaway success.” She’s looking forward to “further growing our partnership in the coming years.”
Zobel says two of the most valuable lessons he’s learned over the past two years have been the need for agility and the importance of Ayala Malls’ relationship with partner merchants and developers. “Notice how I chose ‘agility’ instead of the moreoften used catchword of ‘adaptability,’” he points out. “Adaptability is already a fundamental concept among businesses; fluid environments and dynamic priorities have made it an essential requirement not to thrive but to survive. The pandemic has shown us that the sheer capability to scan the surroundings and subsequently steer the course of an organization is no longer sufficient. The response to anticipated and unforeseen changes should be swift and decisive.
“Adaptability without agility is well meaning but potentially futile in today’s context. The world now is drastically different from how it was only two years ago, and only those agile enough to negotiate rapidly shifting terrains have a shot at triumph.”
One such enduring merchant is National Book Store, and NBS purchasing director Xandra Ramos told us why: “Ayala Malls is a trusted partner that has helped National Book Store grow through the years. We share a passion for innovating and optimizing the shopping experience, and Ayala Malls keeps giving customers new reasons to keep returning to their malls.”
She spoke of the innovations that have grown out of the past several years, like Ayala Malls Neighborhood Assistance, usage of activity centers for events and popups, and also “new ways of reaching customers through the Zing! Mall, which is making shopping even easier.”
Zobel emphasizes, “Our merchants and us developers are the lifeblood of our malls. Going through the challenges of the pandemic together cemented our bonds of goodwill and trust and ushered us into another era of heightened cooperation. We need to listen to each other more, teach each other more, and learn from each other more. The pandemic has not waned but reignited a spirit of entrepreneurship upon which we build an even more resilient, recognizable, and socially conscious brand.”
As inspirational speaker Francis J. Kong noted during a pep talk before dinner was served at Seda Lio Resort, COVID-19 actually helped businesses adapt almost overnight in ways that would have taken them years otherwise. The laser-like focus needed to build back and think differently after a pandemic was necessary going forward, and Ayala has shown it is willing to adapt and grow just as swiftly.
Search Party Moon If you’re looking for a good (fill in the blank), then you have a bad (fill in the blank). The Scorpio moon is keen on waking us up to what we need. Consciousness shifts with the trine to Venus, then Neptune and we realize why we’ve been searching, what we’ve been searching for, and what to let go of too. Replacements will be made.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Focus on the broader strokes because chipping away at small things will be a waste of time and energy when there are so many generalities to establish. Consult those who have done it before to get the correct order.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Coming together will be the hardest part, but once the group is established, teamwork will keep the flow going. Soon the collective has a strong magnetic force that keeps everyone connected in productivity.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). To delay your dreams is dangerous business. What if the excitement wears off, the motivation wanes, the impulse goes away? Do things while you’re feeling them. It’s better to make a memory than contribute to time’s blur.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Instead of wondering what one of your idols would do, you’ll ask sincerely what seems most like a “you” action. If you can come up with one, you’ll take it and be lucky. If you can’t, trying things and ruling them out will be lucky.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have valuable knowledge to impart, and you very shortly will do it. There are but a few things left to learn before you can do this properly. This stage requires patience and organization.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It is your fundamental belief that everyone is unique and exceptional in their own way. For this reason, you prefer not to be put in a position to judge, compare or assign value to anyone’s work. You’ll make choices based on fit.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). To treat lovely people well does not require compassion and has no expansive effect on the heart. Compassion is the kind of love employed when its object seems, at the surface level at least, to be, for whatever reason, unlovable.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When someone makes you laugh, you feel seen. And when you make someone else laugh, it’s like audible validation of a joining of your minds and sensibilities. You’ll enjoy the sacred bond of humor with someone today.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re happy to help, but you’re also happy (SET ITAL) because (END ITAL) you help. Even if you’re not contributing what you’re best at, just showing up willing to pitch in will make a difference to them and a bigger one to you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).
There’s only one trouble you need to own, and that’s today’s. Yesterday’s is over and tomorrow’s is borrowed. Never borrow trouble. If it’s not worth owning, it’s not worth having.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People don’t want to say no to you today, but if that’s really the answer, try and get them to say it. A fast no moves the action forward and is far better than wasting time in limbo chasing down a maybe.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20).
Favors will come from the top. They won’t necessarily go to those who have worked hardest; rather, they go to the ones who have pleased the boss. “Whoever obeys the gods, to him they particularly listen.” -- Homer TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 6).
A payday will relax you! You’re courageous and free, less concerned with results than you are with enjoying yourself. Guided by big curiosity and little expectation, you’ll gather rare insights along the way and see the opportunities others miss. Loving and loyal companionship will be yours to treasure. Capricorn and Cancer adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 3, 33, 2 and 17.