For those stuck in the trenches of glamour, the stylists and writers busy searching for the next big thing, there is no time to idle by shop windows and dream of arty dresses. The marching call of deadlines and the ceaseless rotisserie of story ideas fail to keep them in the wistful mode required to dream up new ideas. Instead there are trends to keep track of, their eagle eyes scanning the horizon for new faces, new pieces, hoping to scurrilously tuck their new find away until they can declare to the world: see my latest find! The next big thing! The must-have of the season!
Irene Pineda’s accessories appeared so suddenly on the scene, worn by everyone with a subscription to Vogue, that no one could take credit for her discovery. Every party had little glamour girls cooing over each other’s Irene necklace, each a unique piece with the most unusual of elements – combining the rustic with disco, the monochrome with neon.
An interior designer by profession, and sister to hotshot photographer Paolo Pineda, Irene put her skills as a decorator, an understanding of color and a knack for mixing patterns and shapes that always makes sense, to good use. Her innate talents led her to create pieces that were far advanced from the trends currently in favor with the public.
It was Ricky Toledo of Firma who told her to hold fast and hone her eclectic style. "Ricky introduced me to the label Marni, when it was still fairly new here in Manila," Irene says. "He showed me new designs every time he traveled abroad."
"When I started out, everyone thought my pieces were too outrageous, but Ricky had faith in my designs. He told me to wait and after a month of two, people began to praise my designs."
Another force in Irene’s life is Ruby Gan, a shoe retailer who motivated her in terms of business, informing her on trends, materials and ideas. "She guides me on what will sell and what won’t," Irene says matter-of-factly.
Irene works with practically any piece she can get her hands on from "found objects to car parts, Christmas décor, kiddie toys, vintage fabric…anything!" There is a keen interest in fashion, which borders on the obsessive, characterizing Irene’s style. Though she is far from slavish – she does not kowtow to trends – she certainly knows her Marni from her Muccia. "My mom keeps complaining about the stacks of magazines I have," she says laughing.
The magazines with their vibrant colors and quirky layout serve as her inspiration, which results in offbeat necklaces that range from dazzling discotheque-ready pieces to quiet countrified stuff. There’s no telling what will come next from this talented young designer and that’s exactly what makes her so special. Here’s someone that marches to a totally different beat.
Claire, who finds the title of designer a bit of a weird fit, was the kind of girl, who, growing up, indulged in more esoteric habits. "I taught myself how to crochet, knit, embroider, macramé and do decoupage from reading the encyclopedia. It was under ’I’ for indoor activities," she says.
These habits came to good use, when, years later into a successful career as a writer, she decided to create a necklace because she couldn’t find one she liked. "I made crocheted balls, but ended up with a big multi-colored crocheted necklace fashioned out of a furry string. It took me an entire day to do it. I wore it the next day to lunch with Myrza Sison, editor of Marie Claire, and Joanna Francisco of Preview who thought I was kidding when I announced that I made the necklace myself. That Monday, I got my first order – from Myrza. Then all my officemates in Summit kept borrowing and ordering necklaces to wear to events or on dates." Today, she and partner Michelle, an old classmate from grade school, form Jeux, an accessories line that consists of one-of-a-kind pieces that the two create individually. "Jeux is French for ‘play,’ and that’s basically what we wanted to do – play around with designs, ideas, different materials, different textures. The whole process is fun for us, and we like to think the wearer of the necklace also possesses that kind of humor," Claire says.
"I was in Paris a few months ago, just before all this started, and I freaked out – just freaked out – when I saw the accessories being sold in the stores. They were so beautiful and so alive. Because of that moment, I think our designs are also European-inspired. It’s less crafty and more urban. Jeux as a brand has evolved – and is still evolving. We’re also lucky because there are two of us, so the styles are even more varied: Michelle is more into classic designs, while I tend to lean towards the more outrageous styles. It’s funny because these days, we find ourselves crossing the lines. Michelle now explores and makes more flamboyant styles, while I find myself exercising restraint and reinventing the classics. As a result, Jeux is a balance between being sophisticated, fun and eclectic. It’s more than just throwing things together. We’re happy to say that Jeux necklaces can be worn by women ages 16 to 60, without losing their basic appeal. I mean, even 60-year-old women can wear them and not look ridiculous or inappropriate," Claire says with a laugh.