Meantime, do drop by her show and you’ll be treated to experience uniquely Filipino high craftsmanship and innovative designs. While being inspired that she does so with the conviction for the environment and indigenous communities from the North to the South of the Philippines.

This time, I spent the day with friends touring and taking pictures of the usually off-limits avant garde shops of the famous alternative place.

People go to Cubao X for a lot of reasons, some go for the art, others for the cafes, the music, others, like me, for some vintage treasure hunts.

Getting ready for some treasure tripping...

With some training or rather some getting used to, you can actually see possibilities even from your old, rickety stuff and you can do so just by going around the shops.  You’d realize just how prized some of those things you thought you’d rather be throwing away.

Take for instance…

Do you realize that those old shades are priced at P1000 – 15,000!  No kidding!  Nina Ricci and Paloma Picasso shades are nothing to sneeze at.  Makes you want to rummage through your grandma’s closet I bet.

These collections are actually from 2 different stores, Grand Thrift Shop and Ron Soriano's vintage shop. So you can see how Cubao X is really a melting pot of similar interests from different angles.

You'd trust your vintage stuff with Ron Soriano, he really knows his stuff! With items coming mostly from his adventures, you'd find some very interesting pieces.

How about this old Singer?  I have one just like it and I was surprised that I was surprised to see three (3) different shops with their own three (3) different takes on the same old sewing machine.  Having seen their projects made me want to be more experimental with mine, I just have to make the time to actually do it!

What did I tell you about Cubao X being of similar interests? Left from I Love You Store, Top Right from Heritage, Bottom Right from Grand Thrift shop.

Even these grandma finds from Grand Thrift Shop can be comfortable even in the most modern homes I imagine.  You would just have to be more creative or hire someone who is, to really put it at home in yours.  But seriously, the easiest way is to select a few pieces that call to you and make it into accents, that way it doesn’t overpower your overall look.

How about this Batibot chair into a foyer chair?

Or this white glass perfume bottles? Wouldn't it make for a very interesting montage on your dining table with some modern silver accents and votives?

This silver mirror can be at home anywere, right?

Even this baul can be at home in a country style, Filipino, Classic or even modern home, depending on where and how it is paired with other things.

Modern? These seventies telephones can add that playful yet clean touch to any modern space.

How about stacking these one of a kind suitcases in a corner for that unexpected accent and useful storage? Top left from Ron Soriano, Bottom left and Right from Grand Thrift Shop

For some really radical upcycling, you'll just love to take inspiration from I love You Store.

Isn't this a great way to add some interest to some boring staircase?

I for one would love a little more LOVE in every room, this BELOVED pillows would do the trick... and all from upcycling your cut-offs or fabric remnants or salvaged from some worn out blankets... hmmm looks like a great project in the making.

Every girl should have their own mini-boudoir! Nothing like a chandelier and curtains for that romantic feel. It's a great way to use those old chandeliers that would look a bit too over the top in most homes.

Thank you Anton and Bong for the great tour. Thank you Sharon Atillo (the lovely lady in the middle) for sharing with us your great store. There is really so much to love in I Love You Store.

Of course, like in my previous post, a trip to Cubao X is not complete without a trip to GeoShoppe for some must-have Eco shopping.  This time I was able to pick up some eco-friendly food-grade plastic bags.  For space challenged refs, these eco bags are a godsend.  Now, I can even bring my own plastics when I go shopping that way, I won’t have to use the regular plastic bags and be so guilty throwing it out after.

The price is not so bad, for 100 pcs the plastic bags range from P75-90 depending on the size.

And who says, going eco can be more expensive?  Well, actually most of the time yes, but here you can grab these Herbal Daila Soaps irregularly cut seconds and really save!  A kilo goes for P150-180 vs P60/100grams.  Isn’t that a welcome perk to going Green?  You not only save money, you cut down on waste, and you help support a company that is just as Green.

You just have to choose the thicker slices so it lasts longer or you can DIY it and fuse the thinner ones together. Sometimes there is Malunggay, Apple, Orange, Coffee, etc.

In Cubao, the Eco movement is so alive, it’s really all Green and Go!

Riding the electric van is free but it's best to take this when you are in the mood for some leisurely site-seeing in Araneta or just want to experience it because it does take its time.

When it comes to possibilities in going Eco and vintage, the trick to appreciating Cubao X is about seeing what could be rather than what is.

Can you see it now?
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I Love You Store
Heritage
Ron Soriano’s Vintage Shop
Grand Thrift Shop
all located in Cubao X, Marikina Shoe Expo
beside Puregold

Be happy.  Be Healthy.  Be Whole.

Make the Quaint things count,

Theresa

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Email me at myquaintlife@yahoo.com

This is actually the second part of the adventure when we went to The Collective.  It’s been a while since my last post, I’ve been having some internet difficulties for a few weeks and I just resolved it last night.  So I apologize for the delay in the train of thought, so to speak.

I admired her fashion so much that I wanted my wedding gown done by her, but due to budget considerations, I didn’t even ask, hayyy.

That was more than 9 years ago and at the Manila F.A.M.E, who should I chance upon unexpectedly???

It was exciting to see the artist skillfully do the folds herself. Seeing her gather the abacca ends into loops, without any apparent direction or pattern but merely falling into the rhythm of the fabric is just simply inspiring. I realized, just how much of her style has also inspired me in mine for my flowers.

The long awaited meeting was just an exchange of a few words, but I was starstruck.  Imagine, finally meeting somebody you admire not only for their work, but also their ideals?

Here are just some of her works for those few people who are yet unfamiliar with this lady’s artistry.

The one on the left is the wrap Dita recreated on the runway. The one on the left is Php4000+, so it can be a bit of investment. But since you can wear it in so many ways, its like having more than one outfit, doesn't it?

These shawls are made from abacca fiber and can be handwashed, not really scrubbed and it will last for years.

Since these are made from natural fibers, it will turn moldy when stored in plastic. It's best that these fine pieces be stored unwrapped and hung in a well ventilated place (inside the closet will do). One should be careful that it is hugh with the folds running they way it should, otherwise it will lose it's form entirely.

Being a bag lady, I couldn't resist her bags and clutches. This one runs for about P900+.

On real people (albeit, not the average person) here is how these elegant wraps can be worn.

One of her assitants told me, her work is really categorized as Modern Filipiniana. With this piece, I can really see why. Now that's a modern terno young Filipinas can carry.

This wrap shows how it can be very versatile and the wearer is just limited to her imagination.

This wrap skirt was displayed as a wrap in the exhibit.

If you would like to see more of her work in person, she will have her High on Silver 25th year Fashion Gala.  This will be on May 30, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the A-Venue Antel Lifestyle Center, Makati.  It will celebrate her eco fashion, sustainable living as well as her Ilocano Heritage, which would make it even more interesting, considering that she kicked off her career featuring abel iloco in her debut collection.

They say her collection is Modern Filipiniana, but for me its more about being a Fearlessly Modern Filipina.  I guess its either you have it in you or these will bring it out, which one will it be for you I wonder?

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Dita Sandico Ong
35 Wilson St., Greenhills, San Juan
www.ditasandicoong.com.ph

Be happy.  Be Healthy.  Be Whole.

Make the Quaint things count,

Theresa

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Email me at myquaintlife@yahoo.com

So going to CITEM’s Manila F.A.M.E. is really a pilgrimage for me.  I can remember being blown away by the World Trade Center being transformed with drama, installations and even pocket gardens set-up by Budji Layug.

This year, it has once again lived up to its ideals.  Though the exhibit is a tad smaller and less “packaged” than a few years back, but the participants are just as exciting!

The first of which is The Pina Shop, home of the First in the World Natural Dyed Pina Fashion knitwear!

As with true eco fashion, multi-purposing is a must, how about this shawl turned headgear/ accent? How about turning this into your bridal veil? Filipina brides should be proud to wear this to their wedding!

I actually got introduced to them last year, but I wasn’t able to document their extraordinary work.

Looking at their clothes, I didn’t expect it was made from Pina.  Like any other Filipino, we are used to seeing Barong Tagalog and for us that has defined pina fibers’ ultimate purpose in fashion.  The feel is similar to wool but a little bit softer with subtler texture.  I have to get used to it though since my usual requirement (having shopped for children for a couple of years) is how soft the materials should be.  But according to Kiko Tacio, (their Sales and Marketing Head) Europeans just love! the texture.  According to him, these sweater are just as good for our hotter climate because it is 100% natural fibers and would allow the body to breathe and release heat.

The Pina Shop has transformed that notion and is transforming the industry with their advocacy of promoting Philippine natural fibers, resurrecting dead or dying enterprises such as cotton farming and Philippine knitwear manufacturing.

Would you believe these all these colors are from natural dyes?

Their story started with the demise of Transcontinental knitting company.  With skilled employees turning unemployed, a group of visionary ex-employees and dedicated owners forged ahead onto new grounds.

Thank you Kiko (left) and Antonio (Middle) for sharing the roots of The Pina Shop.

Finding alliances with former retrenched skilled knitters from other knitting companies that closed in the last few years, they were able to not only gain velocity for their project but has provided invaluable employment opportunities to countless families.

Pina knitwear doesn't look nor feels like the ordinary pina fabric.

As though that advocacy wasn’t enough, The Pina Shop also believes in taking it to a higher level and making their products not only 100% Filipino but more commendable is making it SUSTAINABLE.

From using pina leaves to making their threads...

To organic cotton right here in Dumaguete! and I thought organic cotton clothes can only be bought either in US or Europe, when its probably sourced from our rich Philippines!

Just a few years back cotton farming was dwindling, with CODA (Cotton Development Authority) planting cotton only for research.  But with The Pina Shop, they were able to ask their help to plant new stocks, help countless farmers find livelihood and produce Philippine organic cotton.

Imagine seeing whole fields with ripe cotton to be handpicked! Our cotton is even better than its Continental counterparts since its handpicked, there is less organic materials than machine picked cotton.

Organic cotton with processed pina fibers

Can you imagine, these yummy hues from natural dyes? Yes, since they were going sustainable, they used natural dyes in their fibers as well! Now that is Eco fashion!

This company is not only admirable because of their pride in being and promoting Filipino, they are also socio and eco responsible to boot.

Partnerships with families, communities, government agencies and fashion designers is something all industries should learn from and adapt.

It is not a wonder that they have gained the support of the DTI, CODA, Philippine Textile Research Institute under DOST and the following designers have also been good partners in their bid to make EcoPinoy fashion the fashion of choice.

Marlon Rivera

M Barretto, for male fashion

Twinkle Ferraren for resort and swimwear

The Pina line has only been around for 2 years while their organic cotton line under Gauge 12, for one year.  But seeing their collection and support from fashion designers and government agencies, we can also support them by patronizing and promoting their lines to everyone we know.

Hearing their people speak about the company, it’s so easy to hear the pride and passion they have for their company.  We should all be just as proud.  For The Pina Shop, it is not a matter of luck but a matter of staying true to being Filipino and being Eco that will carry them to success!  Cheers!

If you liked this, watch out for the next installment, this is just the first in a three part series of the best EcoPinoy Finds at MANILA F.A.M.E International.

You can still catch it up to Sunday, April 25, 2010.

And see, what EcoPinoy find would be your favorite.

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The Pina Shop
Unit H 5F Westagate Tower, Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
(632)8425877
www.thepinashop.com

MANILA F.A.M.E. International
Asia’s Boutique Show
April 22-25, 2010
World Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard

Be happy.  Be Healthy.  Be Whole.

Make the Quaint things count,

Theresa

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Email me at myquaintlife@yahoo.com