Fashion Adventures: Just a Tumbling Away

Four half-awake, half-energized looks greeted me as I inserted my metro card into the machine. We all agreed to meet at 7 in the morning. We, meaning They - for I arrived almost an hour after. I do remember being part of the “we” but I guess you lose some of your memory while asleep. I lost that part…but only for a few minutes. We were all on a shopping adventure that morning. Yes, you heard me right. In the morning. At 7. Where were we headed? To the land of Mang Hermes and Aling Sonia, of Gelai and Caloy – Divisoria.

It’s the shopping haven of thrifty people. The place where your 10-peso coin could find its worth beyond a jeepney fare. Several blocks of everything you need, from pots and pans to books and bags, name it, you’ll find it…or should I say, you have to ask around to find it.

I’m not the type who likes asking around. I realized that for a girl who loves to find things, asking around would save half of the energy I spend on trying to navigate through I don’t know where all by myself. It took me several woozy turns here and there to find the place I was looking for and several more to find Manong Lito, the shop owner who sold what I needed – black canvas. It was a relief finding Him but even before I could digest the thought, I was preoccupied with another. How could I find my way back? Where would I get the energy to carry 20 yards of black canvas and ask people around for directions? I may have had the energy to find my way back with 20 yards of canvass on my shoulder but I guess, I never had enough to recall how to get there again. I never saw Mang Lito nor did I find myself setting foot on the “mecca of fabric and textile” again.

I learned the skill of asking around, made me the adventuristangfashionista that I am now. On one of my adventures, I found myself turning left, entering a gate that led me to what I thought was the “mecca of fabric and textile”, the land I was in several years ago with half-energized, half-awake friends. Well, there was no Mang Lito, no black canvass. It wasn’t Divisoria. And I wasn’t disappointed. My car had its parking space. My friend had her Georgette and Gina silk. I had my adventure…in QC. Kamuning is now my “mini mecca of fabric and textile”. It’s just a tumbling away.

Tela, Tela ...And more tela

Haven't had enough of those tela. Am still in search for more. Loving the adventure!!!

My new Mang Lito - Aling Ester!

Found It!

They say that everyone has a third eye, the inner eye. This eye symbolizes enlightenment, making people see far more than the ordinary. I believe, we all have an eye for unusual things (Thank God I do not have an eye for unusual beings). The idea of having an on-line shop, a series of fashion shoots and this blog were all brought about by having the eye for uncommon things, a hunger for what I would call a fashion adventure.

I thought that the fondness for finding extraordinary things just sprung out of me on my early twenties when I started barging into every thrift shop in the metro to find that vintage dress I envisioned and longed to have. But looking back, I guess it all rooted from the desire to be different in a very unusual place...ballet class. Back then, we weren’t required to wear a certain colour of tights and leotards. When most of my classmates wore baby pink or black leotards, mine were in fuchsia pink and blue green stripes. My mom and I would go on board and take that fashion adventure to find the extraordinary dance wear. When everyone made sure they wore their swimwear in the beach, I liked wearing mine in the dance studio. I often times wear things not for what they are truly made for. I guess I have the eye to see beyond its purpose. Some may just call it practicality, finding another means of using something. I would like to see it as creativity, the eye for seeing something in many different ways.

I believe we all have a third eye, an eye that gives us a vision for unusual things, things not seen by many. Some third eye may be supernatural as they see strange and odd beings. Others may be functional, seeing beyond what things are made for. Some may have an artistic or creative eye, seeing things in a different light. While others may be relational, seeing the gift in others.

They say we all have a third eye and they say it can only be opened when you desire it to be opened. When you make the decision to open that eye, you open doors for many adventures. Do you desire to have yours open or do you choose to keep it shut and live your life seeing what is ordinary?

I will be sharing with you (on my next blog)some of the things I have collected as I started embarking on what I would coin as “fashion trips” (just around the corner). I guess I have chosen to open that special eye and share with you the vision I have, not to warn or scare you but to inspire and excite you.