ReVision

An exclusive sit-down dinner and fashion show during Philippine Fashion Week heralded the beginning of a shift in casual apparel giant Penshoppe. Penshoppe: ReVision saw a dinner and show attended by 150 selected guests.

President and CEO of Golden ABC Bernie Liu said: “We are re-imagining Penshoppe and we are happy that you accepted our invitation to be among the first to witness our re-imagining.” Golden ABC is the company behind Penshoppe and also owns and runs apparel brands Oxygen, Memo, ForMe, Regatta and direct-selling subsidiary Red Logo.

Over the four-course dinner prepared by Margarita Fores, models strode down the aisle between the banquet tables and stood in tableaus on pedestals at either end of the marquee. They showed off outfits styled by designer Raoul Ramirez into interpretations of ethnic, country, Gothic and futuristic trends. Feathered turbans and Eastern printed lengths of fabric were combined with brightly colored printed tees; a range of plaids was mixed and matched into rugged textured outfits; and black lace parasols and intricate butterfly-shaped masks were paired with black T-shirts and coated denim jeans. 

Brand director for Penshoppe Alex Mendoza said: “Rather than say what Penshoppe: ReVision is about, I’ll ask you two questions: Does a ‘young’ brand have to be worn by teenagers only? And, should imported clothing be automatically held in higher regard than local brands?” Penshoppe, Mendoza explained, has become known over the years as a teenage brand, thanks to its bright colors and young image; and that though Penshoppe’s clothes have evolved to focus on design, assortment and quality, the brand remains to be known as a teenage brand. And it is this impression that Penshoppe aims to change, beginning with ReVision. 

Apart from the fashion show, the event also launched Penshoppe’s holiday campaign, “Wish List.” Campaign photographs of Club Pen filled the soft fabric walls of the marquee. The evening concluded with a toast led by vice president for marketing at Golden ABC Albert Ong who said: “Penshoppe: ReVision is only the beginning of our re-imagining. You can expect more exciting changes from us in the coming months.” As Mendoza aptly expressed in his speech, “It is an inspiration to discover that Penshoppe can be worn with your favorite French handbag, Italian blazer, Swiss watch or even Brazilian flip flops. The only limits are the ones you set yourself.”

Breitling takes flight

In the 16 years that leading aviators’ watch brand Breitling has been in the country, it has never hosted an event — until now. And there sure was a good reason to celebrate because it was also Breitling’s 125th anniversary!

Held at the Greenbelt 5’s The Gallery, Breitling opened the event with an exciting show and unveiling of its newest collections. Breitling’s GM for Southeast Asia Mike Neo flew in to grace the event and joined Lucerne Jewelers’ Emerson Yao and Ivan Yao to welcome Breitling collectors and watch enthusiasts to the event.

One of the highlights of the event was the revelation of the Chronomat B01, which features Breitling’s first in-house movement, the Caliber B01. Breitling enthusiasts were thrilled to discover the Chronomat B01’s features: self-winding, 70-hour power reserve, high frequency, 47 jewels, 1/4th of a second chronograph, 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers, and calendar. Notably, the date on the calendar can be changed at any time of the day, without fear of damaging the movement, unlike other watches

The Breitling exhibit was open to the public for 10 days after the launch. To see the latest Breitling collection, visit Lucerne and Chronos shops or the Breitling Boutique at Greenbelt 5.

Conquistador

New York Gallery owner Mary Boone once said: “More people are collecting art for the wrong reasons. It’s the latest get-rich-quick scheme. They buy art like lottery tickets.” For businessman Carlos “Charlie” Cojuangco, however, there is a more benevolent reason behind his artistic investments. Charlie began collecting art in 1995 and is the founder of the Negros Occidental Visual Arts (NOVA) Gallery in Bacolod, Negros Occidental which he established to house his growing collection of Philippine art. He also organized the Carlos Oppen Cojuangco Foundation with the primary goal of supporting cultural and artistic efforts.

In January 2010, NOVA Gallery will open in Makati City. On Nov. 25, NOVA Gallery Manila, in cooperation with Rogue Media, Inc. (publisher of Rogue magazine), Art Cabinet Philippines and the Carlos Oppen Cojuangco Foundation, will host a pre-inaugural fundraising show, Conquistador, a solo exhibit of mixed media works by contemporary visual artist Anton del Castillo and will be curated by Patrick Flores. Conquistador is for the benefit of Art on the Verge, a scholarship grant for emerging visual artists conceptualized by Rogue Media, Inc. in partnership with Art Cabinet Philippines. It will be the first of its kind in the Philippines to assist emerging visual artists in the completion of advanced studies in the fine arts, giving opportunity for further exhibition and representation. Conquistador, the conqueror in Spanish and Portuguese, refers to the soldiers, explorers and adventurers who attempted to control the world. In this exhibit, the artist creates works reflective of modern-day conquerors. Plastic toy soldier figures on wooden panels shape negative silhouettes of ships, aircrafts and tanks; while the positive free-standing objects are sculpted in metal. World maps in a variety of shapes and sizes are stationary and rotating panels covered with different colors of metallic leaf — gold, silver, red, copper, gun metal and blue.

Del Castillo was born in 1976 in Manila ands holds a graduate and undergraduate degree in Painting from the University of the Philippines. In 2006, he received a fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council and Sovereign Foundation Hong Kong for the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York. In the same year, he was a finalist at the Ateneo Art Gallery and Philip Morris Philippine Art Awards. In 2003, he won first place in the oil category of the Metrobank Young Painters’ Annual. Del Castillo has participated in solo and group exhibitions in Beijing, Hong Kong, New York and Manila. NOVA Gallery Manila supports current artistic production in the Philippines through the exhibition, commission and acquisition of artworks. It is a cultural partner of the Carlos Oppen Cojuangco Foundation Inc. (COCFI) geared to feature artworks of national and international artists reflective of the Charlie Oppen Cojuangco art collection.

(Conquistador is on view from Nov. 25 to Dec. 22 at NOVA Gallery Manila, Warehouse10A, La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Don Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong Tamo), Makati City. For inquiries, call 392-7797, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.artcabinetphilippines.com. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesdays to Saturdays.)