Rafē News

Rafe Designs A Special Shoe for Baileys

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:09:00 +0000

BAILEYS TAPPED DESIGNER RAFE TOTENGCO TO DESIGN A SHOE INSPIRED BY THEIR DELICIOUS LIQUEUR
The special edition shoe was sold to benefit Clothes Off Our Back.

Designer Rafe Totengco joined the makers of Baileys® Original Irish Cream to celebrate the two things women find most irresistible about a holiday get-together --amazing party shoes and a delicious drink. The Baileys Holiday Shoe Collection of one-of-a-kind Baileys-inspired designs was sold via online auction to benefit Clothes Off Our Back®. The national non-profit organization auctions clothing, jewelry and other items donated by top celebrities to help support many causes around the world, including the fight against hunger.

To support the cause while indulging in a love of fashion, shoe aficionados and their friends ages 21 and older can visit www.clothesoffourback.org to view and bid on one-of-a-kind Baileys-inspired women's shoes. Rafe joins some of the best designers in the business: Alejandro Ingelmo, Farylrobin, Shree Moni and Vanessa Noel. The auction ran from November 11th to December 2nd, and bidding started at $75, with all money raised going to charity.
Each designer created one pair of shoes inspired by Baileys Original Irish Cream -- which means rich, irresistible shoes. “I was inspired by the Baileys Irish Creme Caramel. My strappy high heel platform is crafted in creme patent leather, which emulates the movement of the liquid flowing over ice”, said Rafe Totengco.

"We're really excited to combine two irresistible temptations -- Baileys and shoes -- in a way that benefits a great cause during the holidays," said Dana Yerid, brand director for Baileys. "Whether you're enjoying it with friends at a holiday party or a small gathering at home, Baileys adds 'yum' and delight to the season's festivities. Slip on a fabulous pair of designer shoes with your favorite party dress, pour a glass of Baileys and you have everything you need for perfectly delicious holiday get-togethers."

Rafe Co-Chairs Cooper Hewitt After Party

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:28:00 +0000

Accessory designer Rafe Totengco served as co-chair for the 10th Anniversary Cooper-Hewitt Design Awards Gala After Party held last October 22, 2009. The awards celebrate outstanding achievement in design across a variety of disciplines and were solicited from a committee of more than 2,500 designers, educators, journalists, cultural figures and corporate leaders from every state in the nation. Nominees possessed at least seven years of experience and winners were selected based on the level of excellence, innovation and public impact of their body of work.

The awardees this year included Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Collection for Fashion Design, Tsao & McKown Architects for Interior Design, The New York Times Graphics Department for Communication Design and Bill Moggridge for Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Gala celebrating these awards is one of Cooper-Hewitt’s most important fundraisers of the year. For the first time in its existence the event was held at Cipriani 42nd Street instead of the museum itself, while the institution undergoes a large-scale renovation and expansion project. The change in venue allowed the after party to grow in scope and size. Rafe worked with the Cooper-Hewitt planning team and the after party committee to use the venue’s chapel section, adjacent to the main ballroom, and create an environment that complimented the gala, but had its own unique ambiance.

Committee members like Harry Allen, Dan Wood, Jen Mankins, Alex Bates and Christina Heekyoung Kang brought in the troops. The diverse list of co-chairs made the guest list equally ecclectic. Rafe's friends; Under The Arch actress Ariana Madix, PR diva Denise Kreft, Paul Phillips, Rafe's P.I.C. Steffanie Hyman, Muse Model Agency founder Conor Kennedy, designer China Young and Florist extraordinaire Bob Roberts came to support the event, showed off their Rafe bags, sipped cocktails and danced to the sounds of AndrewAndrew DJ while mingling with fellow design influencers.

Some very lucky guests also walked away with some amazing raffle prizes like a signed Eva Zeisel Granit collection "Cake and Tea" set, an extremely rare out-of-print signed hardcover edition of Syd Mead's Sentury, a signed Milton Glazer "I Heart NY" poster, a Aeron chair from Herman Miller, a limited edition table top sculpture "House" from Robert Wilson and an iPod Touch among other prizes.

Rafe One-of-a-kind Ugg Boots

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Designer Rafe Totengco joined Manolo Blahnik, Betsey Johnson, Reem Acra, Giuseppe Zanotti,True Religion, Stuart Weitzman and many luxury fashion brands, who came together and put their artistic skills to work for UGG® Australia’s seventh annual Art & Sole Auction. The designers used their creativity to create one-of-a-kind UGG Boots. The uniquely decorated boots were auctioned off on www.uggaustralia.com last December 1 – 14, 2009. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

Upon being approached by UGG® Australia, Rafe immediately knew he wanted to commit to the project. “I am thrilled to support the amazing work done by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I've updated the classic Ugg boot with riveted leather straps to reflect the edgier, more urbane style of the Rafe girl."
Art & Sole is a worldwide program created by UGG® Australia, in which boots that reflect the artist’s personality and dedication to charity are auctioned off to the highest winning bidder. This was the fifth consecutive year that St. Jude benefited from the auction that raised more than $315,000 for the hospital to date. “Art & Sole is our opportunity to give back to a great cause like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and help to make a difference,” says Connie Rishwain, President of UGG® Australia.

“The Art & Sole charity auction is a wonderfully unique way to support the lifesaving work of St. Jude,” says David L.McKee, chief operating officer and interim chief executive officer of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “We are so grateful for the dedication that UGG Australia has shown to our patients and families. And we appreciate the time and talent that went into creating these boots, which speak to the hope that St. Jude gives to children battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases.”

Rafe's boot won the highest bid at $2,750 outbidding all the other 23 designers.

Rafe Totengco Nurtures the Future of Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:48:00 +0000

Rafe Totengco played a special role in the Cooper-Hewitt Museum’s Teen Design Fair held last October 19, 2009. As a featured exhibitor and speaker, he interacted with hundreds of New York City high school students, who were invited to learn about careers in design.

The event, which featured Tim Gunn as the keynote speaker and was held at The New York Times Center, is one of the most popular elements of National Design Week, an education initiative offering free admission for all museum visitors and hosting a series of public programs surrounding the National Design Awards. Rafe was joined by leading designers working in the fields of fashion, industrial, multimedia, graphic design and architecture. Design colleges from around the country were also on hand to provide admissions and scholarship information.

The informal atmosphere allowed Rafe to talk with the students one-on-one and share his experiences and insights. “I really enjoyed meeting the students, answering their questions and offering guidance on their career paths,” Rafe enthused. “It wasn’t long ago that I was working my way through FIT as a design assistant. I know the realities and the rewards of the industry and I was happy to share my story.”

Rafe Joins Travelife Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:39:00 +0000

After years of traveling the world searching for inspirations for his handbag and shoe collections, internationally-acclaimed Filipino-American designer Rafe Totengco has decided to record and share his travel experiences via a regular column in Travelife Magazine, the Philippines’ leading travel & lifestyle publication. Rafe joins Travelife as Global Editor at Large.

“We are pleased and honored that Rafe Totengco, one of the most successful Filipinos in the international fashion scene today, has accepted our invitation to join Travelife as Global Editor at Large,” said publisher Christine Cunanan. “We believe that Rafe’s writings about his wonderful adventures all over the world, combined with his wit, humor and eye for perfection and detail, will be an endless source of enjoyment and information for Travelife’s readers.”

Rafe launched his namesake handbag collection in New York in 1995. Since then the Rafe brand has grown to include women’s handbags, shoes and small leather goods. Known for its balance of fashion and function, Rafe blends uptown sophistication with downtown edge while remaining classic enough to be worn for many seasons to come. Over the years, Rafe has become one of the most acclaimed of a new generation of American designers. Today he is President and Creative Director of Rafe New York, which is nearing its 10th anniversary.

Amex Loves Rafe

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Amex Loves Rafe!
American Express has spotlighted Rafe Totengco in advertisements for OPEN Forum,
a new online resource and networking site for business owners. The site is designed to forge meaningful business connections and provide insights from industry leaders and savvy entrepreneurs.

Rafe is specifically highlighted for his dynamic social media outreach which includes Twitter, Facebook, Stylecaster and Lookbooks, as well as his own blogs Can I Tell You and Rafe Loves.

You'll find these advertisements featuring Rafe in the New York Times Business section, the Wall Street Journal, LA Times and the Chicago Tribune. What's next for American Express and Rafe? An upcoming television
commercial will air during prime time on both major network and cable channels. Stay tuned!

Rafe American Express OPEN Book: Social Media Published

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:27:00 +0000

Cardmember Story: Rafe Totengco

OPEN Book: Social Media

Nov 30, 2009 -

This article was excerpted from OPEN Book: Social Media. Find more resources and information from OPEN including a podcast featuring Rafe Totengco atopenforum.com/socialmedia.

DESIGNER RAFE TOTENGCO USES TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND TWO BUZZWORTHY BLOGS TO PROMOTE HIS THRIVING ACCESSORIES BUSINESS IN THE LATEST FASHION (DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF)   

Rafe Signs Licensing Agreement

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:12:00 +0000

RAFE SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT

WITH AP BAGS USA

New York, NY, May 18, 2009 - Acclaimed designer Rafe Totengco has entered into a licensing agreement with AP Bags USA who will facilitate all manufacturing, sales, and marketing initiatives for the designer’s celebrated handbag, shoe and leather goods line, Rafē New York.
This promising announcement comes on the heels of the formation of AP Bags USA. “Rafē New York is the perfect complement to our portfolio of designers. His innate design talent and the commercial viability of his line are qualities inherent to all of our brands,” states John Wilson, CEO of AP Bags USA. “We see Rafe Totengco as a star in the fashion industry and are excited to be a part of his growing success.”

Rafe Totengco adds, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with AP Bags to develop the Rafē New York brand to its full potential world-wide. It is the next logical step in the evolution of Rafē New York to enter the next major phase of maturity. With the tremendous experience and resources available to it, AP Bags, USA will be able to maximize opportunities for growth that my small company could not accomplish on its own before. I believe that this is a major coup for both parties, and will prove to be a great mutual success. We can’t wait to get to work together!”

Rafe joins AP Bags USA’s roster of accessories brands, which includes Mandarina Duck, Coccinelle and Braccialini. AP Bags sought out the New York-based contemporary brand to complement its existing lineup, as well as build its U.S. business. “We looked to Rafe Totengco because he has incredible design talent and an established business in the U.S. market, but he was restricted in his ability to grow doing everything internally to effectively compete.” said John Wilson, president and chief executive officer of AP Bags USA. “We have the infrastructure and know-how, to take his brand to the next level and to build growth in terms of production and distribution.”

Wilson expects Rafe to generate a 30 percent sales increase in its first year under the agreement. Totengco expressed a sense of relief in allowing AP Bags to handle sourcing, production and sales. “It was getting to the point where operations and production problems were affecting my ability to do my best work,” Totengco said. “I wasn’t looking for this, but when the opportunity came along, I took a close look at their brands and thought, ‘Well they’re doing what we’re doing, only better, so let’s do it!’” Totengco said his handbag aesthetic won’t change, but he will be more equipped to produce on-time, at correct price-point with best quality which is key to providing value.

About Rafe Totengco:

Rafe launched his namesake handbag collection in 1995. Since then, he has become one of the most acclaimed of a new generation of American designers, recognized in his field with numerous honors. His accessories are known for their balance of fashion and function with each item crafted using top grade leathers, original fabrics and a fierce attention to detail. Rafe is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). For more see: http://www.rafe.com/aboutrafe.html

About AP Bags USA:

AP Bags USA is the US distribution subsidiary of Antichi Pellettieri Bags S.p.A, a European leader in the accessible segment of the luxury goods market with a consolidated international presence. The Group designs, produces and distributes handbags and accessories, footwear and leather apparel collections characterized by top quality and innovative design.

American Express OPEN® Picks Rafe

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:03:00 +0000

Rafe Totengco was chosen by American Express OPEN® for “My Rewards Story” Contest. He is featured in a special advertising section of the May issue of Fortune Small Business magazine, sponsored by American Express OPEN®. The campaign is designed to highlight select stories of business owners that use their Membership Rewards points to reinvest in their businesses. The six winners of the national campaign represent a variety of industries. Rafe Totengco is one of three that is being featured in a full page ad. Three winners and three runners up were selected from hundreds of submissions from card members to American Express OPEN® Business Card.

In addition to the Fortune Small Business Magazine Advertisement, Rafe Totengco and images of his company will be featured over the next three years in various American Express marketing materials that are targeted to American Express OPEN® card members as well as small business owner prospects. These marketing materials may involve features on the OPEN.com website as well as direct mailings that would include features in the OPEN® BOOK; A practical guide to business growth.

Rafe Totengco Scholarship

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:28:00 +0000

The Rafe Totengco College Scholarship Grant is given by Rafé Totengco, a New York-based Filipino fashion designer who specializes in women’s handbags, shoes, and small leather goods, and men’s bags and accessories. In the late 1990s and through the 2000s, he garnered a number of awards for his designs.

He grew up in Bacolod City, Philippines. Even in elementary school, he began modifying his school uniform and going to tailors to have new clothes made for himself and his friends and family. Most Filipino fashionistas remember Rafe for Schizo, a clothing and accessories business under Sari-sari store in Manila. He was only 18 then and with no formal training in fashion. Unsatisfied he wanted to expand his horizons and soon enough, he went to New York where he enrolled in FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) evening school in fashion while supporting himself as a design assistant.

Late of last year, Team Manila and Marie Claire magazine asked Rafe Totengco to design a men’s and women’s t-shirts for a foundation of his own choice. He chose the Tapulanga Foundation, specifically the scholarship program. The shirts are being sold for Php1,500 and 45% goes to the foundation’s project. This successful project made the Rafe Totengco College Scholarship Grant possible.

Congratulations Mia Joy Villaneuva for being the recipient of the Rafe Totengco College Scholarship Grant, a four year college scholarship grant. Mia plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Education in either the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City or CHMSI, Talisay City.

Better TV

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Better TV just recently visited the Rafe New York showroom, to have an interview with Rafe and to show viewers must have buys from the Rafe New York Spring 2009 collection.

Rafe Bag on Desperate Housewives

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:17:00 +0000

On the latest episode of Desperate Housewives (In a World Where Kings are Employers), we were pleasantly surprised to see a Rafe New York clutch peeking from Gabby’s (Eva Longoria) hands. We know Eva Longoria loves Rafe New York bags in real life but to see her wear one on film makes it even sweeter, especially when you least expect it, talk about fabulous product placement!

Unfortunately this bag was from last season and is sold out. But check out our site www.rafe.com for new clutches that might catch your eye.

Rafe New York in CFDA Accessories Book

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:51:00 +0000

After the success of the 1st CFDA book featuring the ready to wear designers, it was only fitting that the accessories designers get their own book. Published by Assouline, edited by Candy Pratts Price, the executive Fashion Director of Style.com, and written by Jessica Glasscock and Art Tavee. It is a must buy coffee table book for the season. Candy organized the book in themes ranging from innovation, work, Hollywood to pop and future. The coffee table book showcases a wide variety of CFDA accessories designers in a beautiful way with over 250 illustrations and photographs of celebrities and famous fashion visionaries. It is a who’s who in the industry and we are proud to be included with our own full page.

Spotted: Rafe Bag on Gossip Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe Latest News) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Rafe "Camilla" tote in Gossip girl episode 17: Carnal Knowledge

Gossip Girl, the WB's hot drama series, is every fashionistas dream come true. The outfits and accessories shown become instant hits . Every major designer has been featured so naturally Rafe had to be a part of the fabulous production. Recently Blair Waldorf, played by the stunning Leighton Meester, was seen carrying the “Camilla” tote in red ombre’ patent in episode 17: Carnal Knowledge. Unfortunately, this tote is already sold out! Xoxo! Rafe

'Tis the Season to Give!

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:33:00 +0000

In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, Rafe has designed two limited edition t-shirts that will be sold as part of the Marie Claire Philippines "Gifts with a Conscience" project.

The proceeds will be donated to the Tapulanga Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization which provides educational, healthcare and micro-credit assistance to communities in Rafe's hometown province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.

In honor of the project, the Tapulanga Foundation has created the Rafe Totengco College Scholarship Fund, which will provide educational scholarships to children in need.

The t-shirts are available in the US for $35 on the Tapulanga Foundation's website and in the Philippines at Team Manila stores nationwide.

Shop Till You Drop!

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Rafe participated in Lucky Shops - the annual "ultimate shopping event" hosted by Lucky magazine - again this year.

The Rafe booth was packed with shoppers going crazy for animal print totes, laser cut clutches and nylon hobos.

Rafe also designed a limited edition collection of small leather goods inspired by the Chevy Malibu. The Rafe for Chevy accessories were a hit at the event and are also available online at Bluefly.com.

Shoppers with their Rafe goodies!

The Rafe for Chevy "storescape" on 7th Ave. between 22nd & 23rd St. (Click on image to see a better view!).

To view more images from the event, please visit Rafe's Facebook Fan Page.

Rafe Designs Limited Edition Tshirt for Harvey Nichols Jakarta Opening

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:02:00 +0000

Inspired by his recent trip to Indonesia, the unisex t-shirt features a stylized ikat scarf graphic and rafē chain. The black and white graphic will be silk screened onto a white, one-size-fits-all cotton tee.

The shirt will be available exclusively at Harvey Nichols Jakarta beginning September 19, 2008. Customers can purchase the rafē t-shirt for Rp. 500.000 ($50) through December. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Green Peace Foundation. In addition, the shirt will be given as a gift with purchase.

Rafe will attend the store’s grand opening on October 30, 2008 as a guest of honor.

The Harvey Nichols Jakarta location will also carry a selection of the rafē New York Fall 2008 collection of shoes and handbags. rafē accessories are also sold at Harvey Nichols Hong Kong and Harvey Nichols Riyadh.

Recognizing Rafe

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:25:00 +0000

The Asian American Arts Alliance (AAAA) threw an intimate dinner party at 12 Chairs Cafe on October 8, 2008to honor Rafe Totengco for his contributions as an Asian American designer. The organization also recognized fellow designers Phillip Lim and Peter Som.

"I think it is important that we celebrate our heritage," Rafe said. "Events like these really strengthen the bond between us."

Proceeds from the dinner benefited the Asian American Arts Alliance, a 26-year old nonprofit arts organization dedicated to strengthening Asian American artists & arts/cultural groups in New York City through funding, promotion, networking & advocacy.

LUCKY SHOPS 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:02:00 +0000

For the second year in a row, Rafē will be participating in LUCKY SHOPS, the ultimate shopping event hosted by LUCKY magazine. On Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8, enjoy complimentary cocktails and great music while shopping a select grouping of Rafē Fall 2008 handbags.

And feel good about shopping! A portion of ticket sales for the event will benefit Robin Hood, an organization that targets poverty in New York City by funding the most effective programs and partnering with them to maximize results.

For more information and to buy tickets, please visit www.luckyshops.com.

Rafe's Jakarta Diary

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:41:00 +0000

For his second Style File post, Rafe writes from Jakarta. You can read the entry below or click here for the style.com blog.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

June 23: Today I met with Daisy Musin, the buyer from Masari, one of the best specialty stores in Jakarta (and a Rafé stockist). Masari just opened an accessories-only shop in a new upscale mall called Plaza Indonesia. The girls scheduled a marathon press day for me—I could barely speak after all that schmoozing. But I caught my second wind after they took me shopping for Indonesian crafts, home accessories, and fashion. Retail therapy always revives me.

We then had tea in a café that overlooks Jakarta. They made me try some local delicacies like kolak pisang (banana with coconut milk, brown sugar, and pandan leaves) and this amazing drink, Sekoteng, made of ginger, peanuts, jelly, red beans, and milk. That evening we had dinner at an amazing restaurant, Lara Djonggrang, set in a reclaimed 300-year-old temple from East Java. They serve imperial Indonesian cuisine—delicious!

June 24: I had breakfast with Widiyana Sudirman from Harvey Nichols Jakarta, which is set to open in September. We discussed some special projects I would do for the opening. Then my friend Annette del Rosario picked me up to go sightseeing and shopping. First stop, Jalan Surabaya, Jakarta's famous flea market. We dove right into the hand-woven ikat fabrics and batik sarongs from Timor and Lombok, as well as imperial hair accessories that I thought Zani Gugelmann would die for. All that shopping left us hungry, so we headed over to Café Batavia in the historical Kota area. It's a grand 200-year-old structure from the Dutch colonial period and one of Jakarta's most famous and chic restaurants—and it's conveniently open 24 hours a day! After some food, we moved on to the Kemang district to check out the latest mini-mall concept called the Papillon. It has a restaurant with a roof deck lounge, a bridal store that would make Vera green with envy, a multi-brand shop by Club 21, and a tea room by Dutch chocolatier Huize van Wely. The profiteroles were a dream!

Rafe in Style.com Style File

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Style.com has called on Rafe once again to blog for their Style File blog. This time around, Rafe writes from Asia where he has been traveling for the past month. In his first entry, which you can read below, Rafe recounts his trip to Bali. You can read the real post here .

Up next...Jakarta!

Friday, June 27, 2008 11:29 AM

RAFE TOTENGCO'S BALI DIARY

June 19: Seminyak, Bali. When you get invited to a wedding in Bali, you don't think twice about it—you go. That's exactly what I did when my friends David Jacob and Amanda Griffin asked me to join them for a weekend on this magical island. I stayed in Seminyak, by the beach. This area has great shops and really good restaurants. I had a tasty nasi goreng for lunch at Made's Warung, then hit some of the fabric stores. Fortunately, the words for expensive and inexpensive are the same in Indonesian as they are in Filipino, and I came home with a quite a number of ikat scarves and batik sarongs. Sunset at Ku De Ta is a must. This is Bali's answer to Café del Mar in Ibiza. Cute Euro and Asian crowd; groovy, chill sounds by a DJ; and potent cocktails equals a really good party.

June 20: Ubud, Bali. I hired a driver for the day to head over to Ubud to check out the rice terrace. On the way, I took photos of village women preparing for a ceremony and men in their sarongs. All that mix of pattern and color is so inspiring. Had lunch at the famous hole-in-the-wall Ibu Oka restaurant (Anthony Bourdain swears by their babi guling suckling pig dish). Had a Balinese massage at the Four Seasons and stayed for a sunset snack. This hotel has the best bar ever. It has 30-foot ceilings and overlooks a river and mountains—and seating is arranged so everybody has a view. Breathtaking! I caught a Kecak and fire dance performance held inside a torchlit Balinese temple. It was so dramatic and hypnotic. This is one thing you don't want to miss while in Bali.

CFDA Cocktail Party at Norwood

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:54:00 +0000

On the eve of the fashion industry's biggest fete, the CFDA Awards, Swarovski hosted a cocktail party at Norwood, NYC's newest "private club," for an elite group of designers, socialites and celebrities. Rafe, along with friend Zani Gugelmann - a jewelry designer cum socialite - dropped by the festivities to mingle with friends and toast the following evening's awards. Zani looked gorgeous in a summery white cocktail dress that she accessoried with a metallic gold LAOS MARTINA laser cut wood frame clutch from Rafe's spring 08 collection. Unfortunately, that particular clutch is sold out but similar styles, such as the KOH SAMUI JOY metallic gold snakeskin clutch, are available at rafe.com. And they're on sale! Happy shopping!

2008 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Our very own Rafe Totengco was the recipient of the 2008 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award last week. Established by the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) in 2001, the Outstanding 50 Award is the first and largest business award program for the Asian American community in the nation. The award honors the success of Asian Americans in business and recognizes those who demonstrate innovation, leadership and vision. As President of the Rafe brand, Totengco was honored as an influential Asian American entrepreneur who has achieved extraordinary accomplishments in his field. “I’m so proud to receive this prestigious award,” says Totengco. “It feels great to be acknowledged in the Asian American community and especially as the sole recipient in the fashion industry."

Please visit our Facebook page to view pictures from the awards dinner.

SPOTTED: Jessica Alba carrying a RAFE bag!

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:53:00 +0000

Beautiful mom-to-be Jessica Alba was spotted in Beverly Hills on Tuesday carrying her very own RAFE bag. The talented actress accessorized her sunny look with a white LOTUS COCO flower patent leather tote. The chic bag is even roomy enough to double as a diaper bag when Alba finally pops!

Congrats Jessica!!

Rafe on Desperate Housewives

noreply@blogger.com (Rafe PR) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:22:00 +0000

On last night's episode of "Deperate Housewives" - primetime's guiltiest pleasure - fashionable bad girl Gabrielle Solis, aka Eva Longoria, accessorized her cute strapless black dress with a clutch from RAFE's spring/summer 08 collection. Her black LOTUS JOY flower patent long frame clutch added just the right amount of shine to her sophisticated look.

The bag retails for $350 and is available in black, red, orange and - my personal favorite - white (so chic for summer!).