Mai-Mai and Andrea segue to marriage and a ‘baby’

Boy who owns accessories chain is introduced by fairy godmother to girl who loves accessories; boy falls in love with girl. Girl models accessories and falls in love with boy; the boy becomes a man. Girl later learns to make own accessories; the girl becomes a woman. Man and woman decide to form their own accessories chain, man and woman get married, and man and woman live happily ever after.

Not all love stories go this convoluted route, but what makes the ongoing romance between Mai-Mai Cojuangco and Andrea Zini so dreamy and yet realistic at the same time is that it has spanned not only two continents, but seven years of dating, a 10-year age gap, and a Harry Winston marquis diamond that waited five years before it was worn on the girl-woman’s finger. In the time and air miles that have passed on between this couple one finds growth and evolution: that of Mai from a sheltered 20-year-old college student in Manila to a determined, ambitious accessories designer in Florence; that of Andrea’s worldwide franchise of the United Accessories of Benetton chain, for which Mai was an image model, to his very own accessories store, Segue, for which Mai is now a designer; and that of a fairy tale romance between a Filipina princess and an Italian prince to an impending marriage between equals.

In June this year, Mai will finally marry Andrea in Italy, where she has lived for the past five years, first to study and now to work. Here for the holidays as Miss Cojuangco and Mr. Zini, the couple officially opened Segue in Glorietta and Megamall, with matchmaker and Segue official distributor Virgie Ramos, the fairy godmother who started it all. At an intimate luncheon at their fairy godmother’s house, Mai and Andrea, through lots of hugs, kisses, and hand-holding, shared in an exclusive interview with the Philippine STAR how they have made the fairy tale a continuing reality...

philippine STAR: What a parallelism! You and Andrea have been dating for seven years, and you’re finally taking the next step. United Accessories of Benetton has been around for even longer, and is also taking the next step to Segue. Let’s start with Segue. How’s it going to be different?

Mai: The thing is, the Benetton and Sisley products aren’t going to disappear. We’re going to make sure that Segue won’t compete with the other products. That’s why we’re careful about the identity of each brand; we’re still in the process of testing. Sisley has always been the more high-end, older, more expensive brand; Benetton is more young, more colorful, sportier. Segue then will be the fashion brand, but very affordable.

Andrea: After such a long experience in the bag industry licensing Benetton and Sisley, I felt that it was time for us to create something that belonged to us. Something that we always wanted to do, but we couldn’t because we had to follow a certain image.

Segue is our own design, our own image. Segue wants to be more trendy, wants to give variety! But it is not expensive, it is very competitively priced.

But what’s it like working together? Isn’t that a bit difficult?

Mai: Actually, I don’t work with Andrea, I work with his brother! Andrea handles the marketing part, I’m more into production. But I’m learning a lot about the business side of things. It used to be that I was very idealistic when it came to design; I was only interested in the artistic part of things. Now I’ve learned that in such a business, price is always a priority, even if you’re Hermes or Prada or Gucci.

And the name Segue...

Andrea: It means "to follow," it means "next." It’s a very commonly used word in Italian, and it’s easy to pronounce. When you form queues in Italy you always see a sign that says "Segue." It’s always been a dream to have our own store. Two years ago we thought that we should have a shop that is for accessories and only accessories. So that’s our vision. I want Segue to be the bags destination. That’s what we’ve begun doing in Italy. We have 80 stores there already.

That sounds like a very ambitious move!

Andrea: Ah, you mention the word "ambitious" to Mai, and her face lights up!

Mai: Yes, I’m very ambitious!

So basically, you want a store that would sell accessories like you would blouses and shirts and trousers.

Andrea: Exactly. Before, you’d get a bag, which is quite expensive, and keep it for a long time. With Segue, you can afford to buy a bag every week! And you can do that, if you make it affordable. We see that people now change their accessories as often as they change their clothes. Even with their mobile phones – you used to keep one for two years, now you change it every six months.

Mai: If you look at the trends now people are really seeing the importance of accessorizing. It’s what makes you look different, it’s what makes you stand out. I, for one, dress very simply, but I’m really, really into accessories – my bag, my shoes, my watch, my jewelry.

Yes, Mai has dressed the same way since college – T-shirts, jeans. It’s the accessories that have changed. Do you think Mai has changed her fashion sense since she moved to Italy?

Andrea: Mai has always been elegant. She may be in jeans, but she has always had that extra something. But she shops a lot more now!

Mai: Like I said, it’s accessories!

So basically Segue’s vision is following what Mai has been doing all these years...

Andrea: Right! Segue isn’t just a store, it’s a whole concept. It’s a whole idea. A whole new way of looking at accessories. If you go to a Segue store you will see at one point 30 lines, in six to eight colors, in three to four different styles. What will make it a success is to give out designs which appeal to everyone.

Mai: But we’re still looking for that particular design that will be our flagship line, the one we’ll be really known for.

How would you describe yourself as a designer?

Mai: I believe there are three things that a woman wants in a bag. One, it has to be something that goes well with her clothes. Two, she has to be able to stuff her essentials there. Three, it has to be part of a look, something that makes you look well-dressed, fashionable.

It’s funny, but I actually look at architecture magazines for inspiration. Bags are very geometric, just like a house. When I look at a house, I actually see a bag! I see a window, I see a bag! I use my imagination from there. In my first year I was actually making the prototypes. I know how to cut, I know how to sew. Everything. I like working with my hands. It’s so satisfying to see the process, from conception to the end result.

Your work requires a lot of traveling for Andrea and a lot of hands-on supervision for Mai. How will it all work out when you’re married?

Mai: We’ve both been very busy. I may be working for a family company, but that means I’m working harder. It’s another mentality, the standards are different. I get up at 7 a.m. Read e-mails, correspondence, updates. Go to my laboratory, see the designs, look at materials. Lunch for only an hour. No siesta! Then work, work, work. Sometimes I go home at seven.

Andrea: Nothing will change much. We’ll still live in the city center of Florence, where the action is. We’ll probably move to the outskirts when we have kids. Now, we only spend the weekends together, but the rest of the week we’re very busy.

No plans to start a family yet? But if you think about it, in many ways, can you say Segue is your "baby"?

Andrea: Yes, it’s our baby, and it’s growing very fast! And we have 80 babies right away! But Mai wants lots of children, so...

Mai: I think we’ll start having children when I hit 30. Definitely not now.

What a relevant name for you, then! Does it also mean "next" step, as in your relationship? And do you see yourself doing this for a long, long time?

Mai: I see myself growing. I get bored easily. I like change. If what I’m doing changes, then that’s fine with me. I want to know that I’m not doing the same thing I was doing last year.

Has Mai changed much since you met her almost eight years ago? And Andrea?

Andrea: Yes, she’s grown up a lot. She had some difficulties at first adapting when she first moved to Italy. To my surprise, she has made a lot of friends and is quite settled in.

Mai: There are a lot of similarities between Italy and the Philippines, in terms of culture.

Andrea: When I’m in Manila I feel like I’m in Italy. The Christmas, the New Year. The Catholic values. And the importance of family. Everything revolves around the family.

Do you speak to each other in English or Italian?

Mai: Italian, mostly. But when we fight, English. Which makes me even more upset ‘cause then he can’t understand me!

Andrea: Oh, do we fight?

And now for the question everyone has been waiting for – who’s doing your gown?

Mai: I found this Italian lady who has her own atelier in Florence. The name is Rina Milano. Initially I wanted a Filipino designer, but that wouldn’t have been practical; I would have to go home four times just for fittings. That would cost more than the gown! And I wanted to have a personal relationship with my designer. For the lack of time, I just wanted to work with someone I could click with. We’ll start collaborating soon, when I get back. That’s when the new materials for spring and summer are coming in.

And how are you planning to make this wedding special?

Mai: None of my sisters were married abroad, all of them had big, big weddings. This is going to be very Italian, very small.

Andrea: But still big for Italian standards! It will be in a nice church in Sienna, in a very old 14th century town. Romantic.

So can you say, finally you’ve made the big "Segue?"

Mai: It was about time, after seven and a half years.

Andrea: Yes, but I always knew she was The One.