Adora and the gifts that keep on gifting

You can always expect Adora to have something up its sleeve, especially when it’s Christmastime. Unlike other stores, whose idea of holiday cheer begins and ends with pre-packaged gift sets, discounts (or mark-ups) and yuletide décor, Adora has always made room for humor, whimsy and surprises for its customers. Take, for instance, the interactive Christmas installation that they assembled in the middle of Fashion Walk in Greenbelt 5. A patch of green grass in the middle of the stone and concrete mall houses two mini ferris wheels, which take a couple of bright red pumps along for a ride, while Adora’s iconic pistachio green and black boxes and shopping bags tumble across the little verdant plain.

 In a lot of ways, this little oasis of fun and mystery (what’s inside all those boxes?), is a lot like stepping into the department store itself. Though Adora is housed inside a shopping mall, among many other stores and restaurants, entering those frosted glass doors and stepping onto the cool limestone floor is like entering an entirely different establishment altogether. It’s a place where you discover things you wouldn’t otherwise find in any other part of the country, where the joy of mere discovery is paramount to the joy of retail therapy.

 I can’t count the number of times I’ve wandered around Adora without looking for anything specific. Most of the time that I’m in there, it’s just to look at the displays of pretty things. I like to think of the store as a museum of sorts because the merchandise is rare and sourced from all parts of the globe, while the product displays on both floors are expertly curated by the staff. If you’re looking for a gift for the people who really matter to you, it’s difficult to go wrong because rather than bringing in the entire product line of a particular brand, the selections have been edited down to only the most covetable pieces, from the best shirts, shoes, fragrances and pieces of jewelry.

Stella Luna men’s topsiders: Stella Luna Men’s topsiders in green (P7,950)

 Not only that, they also have a wide variety of brands that are available at varying price points. In fact, this unique mix of high and low is what prompted Sharon Edelson to write there’s “Something for Everyone at Adora” in international fashion publication WWD back in 2008. At the time, Adora had revolutionized the retail landscape by offering brands with affordable $50 to $100 price points like Stella Luna shoes, Jaspal clothing and now, Harlan + Holden, alongside high fashion brands like Missoni, Chloé and now, Valentino. Four years later, the philosophy of having “something for everyone” has never rung truer.  

 For instance, while I would love to find a Pandora — the handbag by Givenchy, not the Greek mythological figure — in an Adora box, the store recently introduced sporty/urban bag brand Qwstion, which my non-Givenchy-speaking brothers might take an interest in. Eman Pineda, the president of Adora, was manning the floor himself while I was casually checking out the bags and answered all the questions I had about Qwstion, since he discovered the brand himself while he was in Switzerland. He even demonstrated how the Qwstion Officebag and Tote could convert from top handles to backpacks with a simple adjustment of the straps. 

 For the holidays, Adora encourages this playful curiosity and discovery of “everyday wonders” with their latest campaign, “The only box to open this Christmas is yours.” This month, customers who select a gift for their loved ones (or themselves) at Adora will receive a mystery gift. The surprises range from coupons from Pinkberry or Starbucks to a pair of Happy Socks or Stella Luna shoes. If you’ve been extra good this year, you might even take home your very own indestructible Rimowa luggage. All this, for a minimum purchase of P5,000.

 A gift for buying a gift? It’s just the kind of unexpected surprise that Adora is capable of as a way of giving back to their customers. So what do you hope to find inside your green and black Adora box?

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Adora is located at the 2/F and 3/F of Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center Makati. Tel. No. 217 4029.