The labyrinth called Adora
MANILA, Philippines - Walking into the Adora Department Store at Greenbelt 5 means getting lost in a labyrinth that transports you into a living architectural space designed by Anton R Mendoza — a place where crisscrossing limestone walls surround the most accessibly priced and well-researched merchandise, ready to be discovered.
As you look in amazement at the transparent chandeliers above the makeup and haute fragrance department, you suddenly find yourself enveloped in the bed linens and room candles section. Turning a corner into the hidden cove of Fiori —the unique flower shop concept of Margarita Fores — you forget which pathway you originally came from as you look back at the hard black mini-closets that line the ever-evolving look of the store. As you browse through the men’s shoe section, your interest in more exotic accessories is piqued and you glance over to the jackets from Spain that had been hiding behind a mannequin. Delving deep into this endless maze of “never-before-seen” gems, it is apparent that forgetting where you are — whether stuck between the Portuguese dinnerware department or the Philippine-made accessories area — is worth the trouble.
Adjusting to the shifting spaces, you pleasantly find another floor above that is totally devoted to women: casual wear, denims and dressier clothes guide you along towards the locally-made fashion brand Tyler — a refreshing, recognizable break between the pillars. But at the center of it all — the grand mecca of this location — is the impeccable shoe selection that instantly washes away any feelings of confusion. Now you’ve found your way.
Even as the ordinary elements like the fitting room become a backdrop for trying on the hottest trends and act as sanctuaries where you can all take the time and space you need, it is obvious that every single part of the store — whether premium or accessibly-priced — have received the same amount of commitment to editing and curating that a modern art museum would. The big difference, though, is these pieces are meant to be touched, and tried on! This stroke of marketing genius makes the web of different parts — both approachable and brilliant, from unknown to “bubbling under” — all weave together seamlessly under one roof.
