Putting Collezione Back on the Map

Had the chance to be a consultant once for Collezione C2 and one of the things I said was we needed to get the brand back on everyone's fashion radar --- a distinctively young, fresh and nationalistic idea or take on the designs and collections --- this was the time that the youth was decidedly very pro-Pinoy.

And fashion designer and now Collezione C2 creative director Rhett Eala stepped-in and did his magic of coming up with the Philippine Map designs.

Oh this did wonders for the brand but then again after a few months and after getting so much acclaim for the designs, Collezione C2 suffered the most flattering insult --- it got copied by everyone! How hard was it to put the Philippine map on a shirt right?

If I were still the consultant, I would be asking and finding a solution to this question: SO after the Philippine map, what's next?

Anyway, three things the copycats didn't do right were the "burda" of the map --- it was downright sloppy unlike the one made by Collezione C2; and another thing was the quality of the polo shirt itself. The quality of Collezione-made polo shirts is, really for me unequaled since the 80s (kudos to Mr. Joey Qua and family).

The third and last is the most important --- the cheaper copycat versions didn't have OUR size!

As I wrote before, if your waistline is somewhere in the vicinity of 40 to 42 inches, get the 2XL from Collezione C2.

By the way, they still have sizes up to 4XL. GREAT!

Hold That Tiger!

One of the funniest commercials involving women chasing men (even before the AXE commercials gained notoriety) was aired sometime in the 80's here in the Philippines for a clothing brand with the basic lyrics of "Hold that tiger" in its catchy jingle. The clothing brand was and is LE TIGRE.

(Wikipedia) Le Tigre is an American brand of apparel designed to rival Lacoste in styling. First offered in 1977, Le Tigre polos sported a leaping tiger in lieu of Lacoste's signature crocodile. The brand made a comeback in 2003, after being out of production through the 1990s. Le Tigre had become popular during the later 1980s.

I'm not sure if they

ever did disappear in the Philippines since up to now an outlet store that sells Le Tigre is still up and running along Shaw Boulevard Mandaluyong in the building beside Puregold Liberty Center.

TIP: If buying a Le Tigre polo shirt and you have a waistline of roughly 40-42, buy the XL. It's at Php500.00 (for all that cloth!).

Aside from Lacoste and Le Tigre, the Philippines had its own version of aclassic, vintage brand called Collezione (the logo is the famous key; now it has the key and the Philippine map). More on Collezione later.

I know some of you weren't even born when this brand hit the shelves but hey, Vintage really is back in style. If you don't believe me, what are the supposed modern brands still in use and being bought by Pinoys nowadays --- There's Lacoste, FOSSIL, Collezione, Sebago, Keds (the first sneaker), Sperry Top-sider (the world's original boat shoe), LEVIS, etc.

Boat Shoes are Back In Style

Let's talk about shoes for awhile...Just came from Trinoma and saw once again the Sperry Top-Sider that I so badly want. So I'm reprinting one of earlier blog posts to remind me and everyone else that the boat shoes are back in style!

Had the chance to be with Martin of Sole Movement and a number of other bloggers way back (last August 31) in the COMPLEX LIFESTYLE STORE sneak peak of SPERRY TOP-SIDER in Eastwood Mall and what an experience it was.

I was quite amazed at the feeling I got when I first entered the store and saw the rows upon rows of Sperry Top-Sider --- happy memories came rushing in. Memories of my carefree high school days, Saturdays in Greenhills with family and friends, anticipated mass in dela Strada Parish, merienda at Shakeys Katipunan and soirees with girls from Miriam, St. Paul and Assumption...all because of what greeted me as I entered COMPLEX --- the Authentic American iconic Sperry Top-Sider (in brown leather).


Kind of hard to imagine that Sperry, the originator of the boat shoe has been around for 75 years.

Back in 1935, Sperry was out for a sail with his dog, Prince, when he noticed that Prince had no trouble navigating the cold, wet, icy decks. Paul took a look at Prince’s paws and noticed that there were several cuts and ridges going through the pad on the bottom.

Prince inspired Paul, and he went home to create shoes with rubber soles that looked just like the bottom of Prince’s paw. And, thus, Sperry boat shoes were born!

I still see friends and relatives wear this style in various permutations. Nephews and nieces boast of their latest finds and how boat shoes are the rave these days, how my uncle refuses to part with his ages-old navy blue Sperry Top-Sider bought in Cartimar, and how my youngest brother got cited for not wearing socks with his boat shoes to work.

In spite of falling in love all over again with the leather "Tops", one new Sperry-style caught my eye and it's the Bahama. It has a modern look yet almost retain the silhouett

e of the classic Top-Sider that I love. It really is a wonderful cross between sneakers and Top-Si
ders.

Sperry now comes in a variety of styles and designs for both men and women that ranges from the Authentic Original leather Top-Siders that we all love to vulcanized soles and canvas tops.