by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 4, 2022 | Fashion
The future meets the present as Ellis Co, 21, presented his debut collection with the idea of déjà vu in mind. Dubbed “Memoirs of the Future,” the fall 2022 collection marked the coming of his high-fashion streetwear brand ARCHIVES.
“I chose the brand name ARCHIVES because the clothes that I design are timeless and lasting pieces, and in itself, a collection of historical records,” Ellis, the brand’s founder and director of design, said. “I perceive these pieces as the remnants of me as a designer for years to come, and years after I’m gone.”
Described as a fashion presentation beyond the traditional runway, the “Memoirs of the Future” show was truly a multisensory experience envisioned by the young designer. To make this fashion time travel possible, he worked with director Frank Mamaril to bring his vision come to life. And on July 27, 2022, Whitespace Manila in Makati City was transformed into a portal where guests got a glimpse of the future of fashion through Ellis’ designs, with the help of ARCHIVES’ creative director Reika Mayani.
The guiding theme of the collection is Ellis’ passion for eco-brutalism, modernity, and the Japanese fashion aesthetic. These themes were echoed in the many elements of the event starting with the food. Featuring the culinary works of chef Margarita Fores, Manila’s most fashionable crowd was treated to a modern gastronomic journey as the first part of the ARCHIVES experience. Upon entering the show’s venue, guests were instantly transported to the future. Like a scene from a dystopian film, the space was an arena where gray angular structures were complemented with lush greens, offering the perfect set to Ellis’ designs.
Opening the show were the musicians from the Manila String Machine, setting the mood as they performed Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Concerto No. 2, “Summer” III. Presto. The string musician’s performance didn’t end there. Throughout the show, they played melodies accompanying the contemporary beats of the music produced by Ellis, another nod to the future-meets-now theme.
As the fog began to rise, models walked the runway wearing Ellis’ designs. “Memoirs of the Future” presented a total of 44 looks, divided into segments for the show. It started with a parade of black, giving a first look at the designer’s take on unconventional proportions. Outerwear was reimagined into oversized pieces with obi belts and curved cut lapels — the designer’s signature touch. Breaking the dark and gloomy display was a white garb with a flounced hat that was so dramatic it took everyone’s breath away. Following it was Ellis’ play on neutrals and fall dressing. Classic pairings like the black dress with a trench coat and puffer coats and cargo-like pants got a new look with his exploration of structure and silhouettes. Ending the show was a display of his gray designs making it a true fashion display for the cool kids of today.
“When I design, I’m very focused on the silhouette, how the shape looks, how the piece drops on the body, especially, the minor details,” Ellis said. “Basically, I’m trying to make something that hasn’t been done yet but is still familiar. I try to find the familiarity in the unfamiliar.”
Apart from Ellis’ inspiration, what made this collection unique was his addition of boxing gloves and head gears to some of the pieces. This is another personal stamp of the designer as before becoming a self-taught architect, music producer, and designer, he also has a background in boxing.
Another recurring theme in the show is androgyny. Aside from the clothes, a sense of gender neutrality was also present in the models’ makeup. To achieve that, Ellis worked with makeup artist Gery Penaso. Much like future humans out of hibernation pods, the female and male models sported an elevated bedhead look — burgundy eyes, bleached brows, and raw and unpolished hair with metallic tipped nails completing the whole vibe.
“The collection is very detailed. I want to make sure that we apply it also to the beauty looks,” Gery said. “It is very rare on the runway to have nails also done. When they all come down to the runway, they look very cohesive”
Ending the fashion presentation on a high note were the electrifying performances by Jalen Davis, popularly known as MDMA or Molly (an American recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia) while DJ Patty Tiu played the coolest music for the night crowd.
“There are standards for quality, but when it comes to creativity, fashion is a medium,” Ellis said. “Whatever you create through fabric, that’s your own original design. It is just like music and painting, but your tool is the fabric. Fashion is an art form.”
To stay updated about “Memoirs of the Future,” visit Archives’ official Instagram page @archives.galerie.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 30, 2022 | Business
OurCrowd, Israel’s most active venture platform, and Einhorn Resources Inc, a Philippine investment firm, today announced a partnership that will provide Einhorn clients direct access to OurCrowd’s exclusive investments and mentorships to facilitate the growth of Philippine start-ups.
The partnership was signed in Tel Aviv, Israel, between Dan Bennett, OurCrowd’s General Partner & Managing Director of Australia and Asia, and Jean Henri Lhuillier, Einhorn Resources Inc CEO.
“This new partnership is an exciting opportunity to extend our pipeline into the vibrant investment community in the Philippines and to help nurture its startup ecosystem,” said Dan Bennett. “Einhorn Resources’ deep knowledge of the Philippine investment landscape will be instrumental to bringing our top-tier technology talent to that part of the world.
“Not only are we raising money for these opportunities both in Israel, the US, and beyond, but this is an important opportunity for corporates and family offices to invest from the Philippines and to attract technology that will benefit their core business.”
This collaboration, the first of its kind in the Philippines, provides Einhorn clients direct access to one of the world’s leading online venture platforms. OurCrowd currently has $1.9 billion in commitments and has deployed capital to more than 347 portfolio companies and 39 funds in five continents. It also has 200,000 registered members from 195 countries which it allows to participate in vetted and early-stage firms and funds.
Currently, plans are being made to set up a regional incubator that will give growth opportunities to Philippine startups looking for Israeli tech expertise.
“We are excited to work with OurCrowd to pave the way for stronger ties for investment opportunities, traditional companies, and tech solution collaborations,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier. “The partnership aims to open the funnel to a Philippine network of investors who can choose relevant companies to invest in as well as customize an online portfolio.”
Einhorn Resources Inc oversees multiple investments in agriculture, fintech, education, healthcare, real estate, and software, directly or through funds, with investments in Europe, the US, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines.
For more details, visit the OurCrowd website at OurCrowd.com or email us at le**@******wd.com and ei*****************@***il.com. You may also contact OurCrowd at +44 747 019 6826.
About OurCrowd:
OurCrowd is the online global venture investing platform that empowers institutions and individual accredited investors to invest and engage in emerging technology companies at an early stage. Acclaimed by PitchBook as the most active venture investor in Israel, OurCrowd vets and selects companies across all sectors and stages, invests its own capital, and provides its global platform of over 215,000 registered members from 195 countries.
Founded by CEO Jon Medved in 2013 with the vision of democratizing world-class venture capital investing, OurCrowd has grown rapidly into the world’s leading online venture investing platform and as of 2021 has received over $1.9 billion in commitments, and deployed capital into more than 347 portfolio companies and 39 funds across five continents.
To date, OurCrowd’s startups have recorded 59 exits including several stock market listings: Beyond Meat, Lemonade, Innoviz, Hub Security; and numerous high-profile acquisitions: JUMP by Uber, BriefCam by Canon, Argus by Continental, Crosswise by Oracle, Replay by Intel, Corephotonics by Samsung, CyberX by Microsoft, and Kenna Security by Cisco. OurCrowd builds value for its portfolio companies throughout their lifecycles, providing mentorship, recruiting industry advisors, navigating follow-on rounds, and creating growth opportunities through its network of multinational partnerships.
About Einhorn Resources Inc:
Einhorn Resources Inc. is a management company that oversees investments in companies of diversified industries in its portfolio. Investments in companies such as DailyPay, World Chef, FutureBank, Kennemer Foods Inc, Xepto Education, Kini, Crowded, KITA, Carbon6, ReWire, and SaNOtize to name a few.
Aside from investment recommendations and management, the group is in constant search of solutions to help improve growth in transactions, revenue, and valuation of companies within their network.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 28, 2022 | Business
The challenges brought about by the pandemic have pushed many businesses around the world to innovate new ways and means to capture their market. While eCommerce continues to prosper in various countries where COVID-19 is getting manageable such as the Philippines, this has paved the way for some other start-up businesses to get recognized and establish a brand that caters to the new needs in this new normal.
With health and safety remaining a top priority amongst households and businesses, the local brand Mr. Cool of Mr. Zolutions, Inc. continues to grow with the expansion of its brand not only in the Philippines but also abroad, specifically in the United States of America. Since its introduction in the market in 2018, Mr. Cool Aromas has been showcasing a strong presence in the market with its in-demand products including car aromas and disinfectants.
Seizing Every Opportunity
“We want our products to be a part of every vehicle not only here in the Philippines, but also abroad. We believe that through this Dealership Package, we will be to help aspiring business-minded Filipinos start their journey with us while we keep strengthening our presence in the market, and continuously providing our customers with quality products that will keep them safe and happy anytime, anywhere,” Mr. Zolutions, Inc.’s Founder and CEO Mr. Vinson Perea said.
With over half a million bottles already sold in the market since 2018, Mr. Cool is set to achieve its vision of being a major brand offering unique, relevant, value for money, and high-quality products that have great benefits and satisfaction to customers. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines, Mr. Cool’s products are currently available through different physical stores such as Unimart, FamilyMart, Rapide Auto Service Experts, Total, Petron, and Shell, as well as in popular online channels among Filipinos such as Shopee and Lazada.
Mr. Cool also partnered with public and private organizations to provide additional safety and quality scents to their daily operations. These include the Cities of Manila and San Juan, Honda Philippines, and NLEX.
Set to Grow Bigger
“We believe that our products have a great potential to capture the international market, hence this year, we are bullish that we will be able to establish our presence in the US, while our footprint in the Philippines expands through various distributorship programs,” shared Ms. Ma. Concepcion Tejada, Founder, and COO of Mr. Zolutions, Inc.
To grow with its customers who have been the brand’s greatest ally since its launch, Mr. Cool now offers its Distributor’s Package, which serves as an entry-level to start earning through well-loved Mr. Cool products. For only PHP6,050, aspiring entrepreneurs can own Mr. Cool’s Dealership Package, which includes top-selling premium items from Mr. Cool and Mr. Fresh Helmet Freshener. Aside from that, training, product knowledge, and salesmanship will also be provided to those who will avail of this package. Marketing collaterals such as testers and tarpaulin are also included to further boost its new partners to establish the brand.
Mr. Cool of Mr. Zolutions, Inc.’s corporate office is located at #54 J. Perez St., Project 4, Quezon City while the production facility is in Cupang, Antipolo City, Philippines.
For more information about Mr. Cool’s Dealership package, they can be reached at:
They can also be reached on their international social media accounts:
Reach out now and be a part of the Mr. Cool family.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 27, 2022 | Business
There is a global call from environment advocates to urge multinational companies and leading consumer goods brands to lessen the use of plastics in their product packaging by refilling. It is yet to happen.
However, a local brand called SABON EXPRESS. has joined the global reuse and refill revolution to spur a transition to a plastic-free future. Its founder and Chairman, Mellany Zambrano, believes it is time to shift consumer behavior and habits when buying household products.
SABON EXPRESS, an innovative consumer goods brand and franchisable store chain, is paving the way for locally manufactured liquid soaps and detergents to have a strong foothold in the market with its first-of-its-kind mechanized and automated ‘sabon’ refilling stations that allow consumers to have a refill of highly essential and consumable household products like dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, liquid hand soap, car shampoo, reusing their own bottles and containers – in a hygienic way.
SABON EXPRESS dubbed as The Refill Authority is trailblazing a more appropriate way of sabon refilling – one that does not require the ‘tindera” to use “tabo” or dipper to fetch products from the drum to manually refill bottles, which is a current practice of most local sabon refilling stores in the country. Said manual process potentially contaminates products and makes refilling messy and unhygienic. Sabon Express launched its liquid soap dispensing unit at the Zero Waste Bazaar in Uptown Mall BGC Taguig last July 18-21 – as the first and only automated and hygienic sabon refilling station in the country.
The Zero Waste Bazaar is celebrating Plastic-Free July, a collaborative event of Ecowaste Coalition of the Philippines, Greenpeace Philippines, Mother Earth Foundation, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm together with Break Free from Plastic, Oceana Philippines International, and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. It showcased a photo exhibit and bazaar featuring art and eco-friendly stores to make plastic-free Pilipinas a reality.
Sabon Express founder and Chairman, Mellany Zambrano
SABON EXPRESS strongly advocates for “a world with less plastic” by promoting the reuse of plastic containers for household products via its conceptual and innovative hygienic ‘sabon’ refill dispensing unit in all its stores which comes in both manual and automated machines – a game changer in the local ‘sabon’ refilling industry.
With a vision to serve the country’s increasingly demanding market at scale, Sabon Express is committed to continuous research and development. It is being assisted by the Department of Science and Technology’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) for further product development, technical advancement, and good manufacturing technology and processes.
“At Sabon Express, we are always looking for ways to innovate in order to serve our consumers better and to help save the environment in our own little way because our business is advocacy-driven”, says Mellany Zambrano.
Open for Franchise, Distribution, And Reselling
Sabon Express Refilling Station
Among the signature products of Sabon Express are the Deesh dishwashing liquid, Lanza fabric conditioner, Hush hand soap, Savonex multipurpose cleaner, SoFresh washing machine tub cleaner, Glim glass cleaner, Switch liquid detergent, Vorox toilet care, and CarZ car care.
Sabon Express ALL-IN franchise+ package is worth P388,000 which includes a Sabon refill dispensing machine, store fabrication and installation, display racks and counter table, store signages, and P50,000 worth of initial product inventory, product marketing/sales training, and more.
For franchise, distribution, and reselling inquiries, call Sabon Express hotlines: 0919-0967602/0970-5614670/0965-6912553 or visit their office at 1023 10th Floor, City & Land Mega Plaza, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 20, 2022 | Book Reviews
Spin the Bottle by Effie Greene is a story in the young adult/teen category in Goodnovel. I immediately checked if it was on Amazon as well, and when I found it I bought the book. To be quite frank, it is cheaper to buy a book on Amazon than pay per chapter on reading apps.
I really loved reading this story. The story is light, romantic, and (to a certain extent) innocent … certainly nowhere near the steaminess of other books I have read, which is exactly why I love it!
I like reading YA books every now and then as a palette cleanser and this book is worth the coin. Kudos, author Effie Greene! I also like the fact that the author didn’t push too hard for steamy scenes when it wasn’t necessary.
If you want to give this book a try you can find it on Goodnovel and on Amazon.
To grow with its customers who have been the brand’s greatest ally since its launch, Mr. Cool now offers its Distributor’s Package, which serves as an entry-level to start earning through well-loved Mr. Cool products. 
SABON EXPRESS dubbed as The Refill Authority is trailblazing a more appropriate way of sabon refilling – one that does not require the ‘tindera” to use “tabo” or dipper to fetch products from the drum to manually refill bottles, which is a current practice of most local sabon refilling stores in the country. Said manual process potentially contaminates products and makes refilling messy and unhygienic. Sabon Express launched its liquid soap dispensing unit at the Zero Waste Bazaar in Uptown Mall BGC Taguig last July 18-21 – as the first and only automated and hygienic sabon refilling station in the country.
Spin the Bottle by Effie Greene is a story in the young adult/teen category in Goodnovel. I immediately checked if it was on Amazon as well, and when I found it I bought the book. To be quite frank, it is cheaper to buy a book on Amazon than pay per chapter on reading apps.
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