Joseph Ong
VANITA. Some might say it sounds close to the word “vanity.”
Look it up online and you’ll find the word vanita is of Hindi origin and its meaning is “essence of a woman.” Both fit in very nicely with the recent Buyers’ Fashion Show for Vanita (held on March 20) where the women of Cebu were treated to sophisticated fabrics, trend-setting colors and exclusive laces in gorgeous lingerie and swimwear created specifically for Filipino women and designed by Italian-born designer Fabiola Marin.
Marin took her interest in fashion design at the Istituto Marangoni Fashion and Design School in Milan, one of Europe’s leading fashion and design schools where renowned designers like Gianni Versace and Gianfranco Ferre had trained. And after years of research and conceptualization, Marin felt that this is now the right opportunity to introduce Vanita, which she hopes will be appreciated and loved by the Philippine market. Marin came up with the idea of creating and launching high-end lingerie and swimsuits that best embody the confidence Filipina women possess.
She has worked for both La Perla, a leading creator of luxurious and fashionable lingerie and nightwear among others, and Victoria Secret’s Intimissimi line making her an expert in the field of alluring undergarments.
In an event organized by Cybill Gayatin and Kaye Luym of A-List Events, PR & Advertising, the models from the Models Association of Cebu sauntered and posed from The Tinderbox cigar lounge, up the stairs to the Z Bar before proceeding with the final preen back at the cigar lounge. The salon show was directed by Edwin Ao, hair and makeup was by Emi Ayag, and the gorgeous accessories featured were by Dianne Espera of Sepa.
They don’t have a store in Cebu yet, but the pieces are available through their Cebu distributor, Aziza Mondoñedo. For more info on Vanita, check out www.houseofvanita.com.