Model Mandy Santos designs for moms and kids

Mandy Santos is a favorite cover girl of the country’s top lifestyle magazine and many would be surprised to know that she owns Tarte Tatin, a fashion brand that caters to fashionable moms and their daughters.

Its Meres et Filles collection carries girls’ clothing —from newborn to size 16 — and women’s wear. The clothes are locally manufactured so each piece you buy not only makes you fashionable, but helps our economy, too.

Tarte Tatin has now become a one-stop shop that offers footwear and accessories for toddlers, their moms, and grandmas. Popular items at Tarte Tatin include a line of home diffuser scents, colognes, room sprays, body balms, moisturizing candles, burners and burner oils that are flying off the shelves. The store will soon carry a home line for girls of all ages, sizes and choices.

 Mandy learned the fashion trade from her mother, Margie de la Rama, who was and still is in the manufacturing and export business for many decades now.   Mandy had access to fine fabric and accessories suppliers from Europe and Asia. She regularly attends the Pitti Filatti and Pitti Bimbo (trade fair shows held bi-annually in Florence, Italy). Margie’s company Mr. Knitwear Specialists Inc. receives an A-rating for quality and craftsmanship. And so Tarte Tatin has an edge over other brands on the local market because of their own manufacturing capability.

Pretty family: Mara Poblete, Margie dela Rama, Solenne Santos, Gabbie Talan, Mandy Santos with Olivia Santos

Tarte Tain caters to sporty, boyish, and trendy girls to sophisticated and conservative ladies. Here, you can find something that suits your personality.

“When I gave birth to my daughter Solenne eight years ago, I noticed that there was a drought of good (or my perception of good) little girls’ clothing on the local market, hence Tarte Tatin was born. Basically, what started out as a clothing store for girls has now turned into a one-stop shop, where we try to cater to your little girl’s and her mama’s needs and wants,” shares Mandy.

 Tarte Tatin stores are at the Children’s Department of Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Mall Ortigas. There are also two free-standing boutiques in Greenbelt 5 Ayala Center and the other, at Rockwell Power Plant Mall.  Additional boutiques will be opening at the beginning of 2013.

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Apologies:  In last week’s column, I gave the wrong name of a Japanese restaurant.  It is called Marufuku, an authentic and traditional Japanese restaurant focusing on serving dishes the classic and old-fashioned way; it aims to go back to basics and serve its clients classic Japanese food using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients.

Marufuku Japanese Restaurant is at the ground floor, The Crescent Building, 29 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center (entrance is on Amethyst Road).

For reservations, call 0915-3554211 or visit http://www.facebook.com/MarufukuJapaneseRestaurant. 

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For comments and ideas, e-mail:  jacinto.fa@gmail.com.