Set to a mystical and enchanted forest, Pandora’s recent unveiling of the 2014 Autumn/Winter collection was a feast for the senses. Walking through SM Mega Fashion Hall, guests were immediately inundated with the lush scenery unfolding in front of their eyes. Trees stood tall and strong, with leaves swooping in the night. Music enveloped the packed room, and an interpretative dance by the Philippine Ballet Theater set the stage for an introduction to the exquisite new collection.
The venue was filled with Pandora enthusiasts, members of the media, lifestyle & fashion bloggers, guests like ballerina, actress & ballet director Maritoni Rufino-Tordesillas, some of the Philippines Best Dressed Women Nikki Tang, Marcott Almeda, Ruby Chua, Tiffany Chua, Sheree Chua, Aziza Mondonedo and Cristina Gomez, Showbiz/TV personalities like Rhian Ramos, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Albert Martinez with daughter Alissa Martinez, LJ Reyes, Mark Herras, Max Collins, Yassi Pressman, Benjie Paras with wife Lyxen Paras, Michelle Vito, Sofia Andres, Michelle Gumabao, Antoinette Taus, Tom Taus, Janine Gutierrez, Marco Alcaraz, Ervic Vijandre, Luis Alandy, Dianne Medina, Helga Krapf, Melissa Ricks, Djanin Cruz, Kiana Valenciano with Samantha Godinez-Valenciano, Phoemela Barranda, Atty. Karen Jimeno, Angel Jacob, Beauty Queens Lara Quigaman (Miss International 2005) Shamcey Supsup (Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner up ) with husband Lloyd Lee, Gwen Ruais (Miss. World 2011 1st runner up), Bianca Manalo ( Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2009), Pia Wurtzbach (Bb. Pilipinas 2013 1st runner up), Models & Athletes Anton del Rosario and Sam Richelle, Andrew Wolff and Janka Cederstam, Hideo Muraoka, Marina Benipayo with Ricardo Cepeda, Catriona Gray, Valerie Bariou, Rima Ostwani, Janeena Chan joined by Pandora Asia-Pacific Regional Sales Manager Katherine Chan, Pandora Brand Manager Singapore, Teresa Tang and Account Executive Singapore Andy Chum with Tricie Legarda, Pandora Philippines Sales & Marketing Manager and Lucerne’s Ivan Yao and Emerson Yao.
The highly acclaimed playwright and director Floy Quintos, together with celebrated set and costume designer Gino Gonzalez, treated the guests to a visual treat and took heed from the collection’s nature-inspired aesthetic. The duo creatively translated the Autumn/Winter design philosophy into the story of a woman’s journey to self-discovery.
Each of the pieces in Pandora’s Autumn/Winter collection, after all, is thoughtfully designed to tell the modern tale of femininity. The collection boasts of beautifully textured and ultra-feminine rings, earrings, charms and pendants, which can be collected over time and stacked, combined, and styled with other pieces for a truly personal look. Crafted from sterling silver, 14k gold, coloured enamel and sparkling cubic zirconia, the Autumn/Winter collection melds tradition with innovation to create unforgettable moments and stylish sentiment. Taking this into consideration, it was only apt that the creative team behind the performance would make femininity its focal point.
“The heroine of our tale is a young lady named Pandora,” storyteller Menchu Lauchengco Yulo narrated to the audience. But this Pandora, she said, wasn’t the same as the mythical character who opened a box of the world’s woes. The Pandora in the story was a sheltered woman who sought to live her own adventures, and find her place in the world. Brave and courageous, Pandora took to the magical path in the woods to start her journey.
As the story progressed, Pandora met a series of characters who would contribute to precious moments in her life. From meeting a charming prince in the deep neck of the woods, to watching golden leaves dancing in the night, like specks of gold in the wind; to marveling at the glittering blanket of stars above, and having them light up the cosmos for her. Each chapter of Pandora’s journey is rewarded with beautiful charms that circle her wrist.
Each charm in the story represents a series in the Autumn/Winter collection. The dancing leaves represented Shimmering Leaves, a precious heirloom in the making, waiting to be passed down through generations. Building on last year’s gorgeously Fairy Feather series, the new Shimmering Leaves series was crafted through months of painstakingly made renderings and meticulously honed prototypes, using fine jewellery techniques to create micro-set sterling silver and yellow gold details.
The flurry of stars, meanwhile, took inspiration from the Night Blue Crystal Set, a new series of cool blue jewels comprises a captivating cocktail ring, delicate stud earrings and a necklace pendant, each set with beautiful deep blue crystal, faceted to catch the light.
The blooming flowers and plants in the moonlight were inspired by the Dark Florals, a series characterized by its sculptural elements and textural combinations reminiscent of the natural world, as the jewellery features mysterious and magical floral motifs.
Focusing on each of the collection’s series, the ballet performance perfectly illustrated what Pandora stands for: a celebration of womanhood, and of creating a series of unforgettable moments in one’s life.
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