Designer Oliver Tolentino Unveils "MaSAYA" Collection

On October 26 RIIR Designer Line, in partnership with premier universal bank Metrobank Platinum, has redefined fashion with the launch of its latest collection of couture bags designed by internationally-acclaimed global Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino. 

Event host, Ms. Issa Litton

The collaboration has resulted to an awe-inspiring line of clutches and totes in vibrant hues, bold patterns and distinctly Filipino design.

Dubbed, "MaSAYA," Tolentino draws inspiration from the blissful spirit embodied by the women of Payatas, the artisans who painstakingly hand-weaved the fabric materials used for the collection.

Musses cascades the runway at the Gallery of Greenbelt 5 in original Tolentino-designed dresses, an inspiring backdrop for the eco-ethical bags. 

Video From LivingMarjorney blog

A burst of vibrant colors, the collection showcase the banig, hiyas clutches and  kantinares pattern of the indigenous women of Bangued, Abra. They celebrate their Tingguian origin by continuing their living traditions of fabric weaving in the hopes of passing it on to younger generations. Like the women of Payatas, their valued skill is also the source of their sustenance. 

 

Fashionably Eco-Ethical - All pieces from the RIIR MaSAYA collection by Oliver Tolentino utilize scrap fabric materials that are converted into functional and high-fashion products through a process called "upcycling."

Using discarded  materials is part of the advocacy to help conserve the environment while providing a sustainable source of income for the artisans behind the products. 

Tolentino has been recognized for his contribution to haute couture all over the world. His slew of recognitions include being named Designer of the Week in March, 2011 at the prestigious Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Springs, California, USA; winner of the Sustainable Eco Fashion Award in 2010 at the Islands of the World Fashion Week in Bahamas; and one of the finalists at the Oscars Designer Challenge in 2010 among others. 

Check out more information about RIIR at www.rags2riches.ph

*Posted by Marjorie Pineda for Good News Manila

Oliver Tolentino is known for promoting local fabrics and Filipino culture through his pieces. Tolentino and event partner Metrobank Platinum are staunch advocates of RIIR's eco-ethical style - a coalescence of fashion, social responsibility and preservation of the environment.