 We often find ourselves channeling that iconic Audrey Hepburn persona who meekly venerates a window display of magnificent jewels with just a humble piece of bread as our most recent purchase. We may not afford such luxurious items, but hey, at least we’ve got taste. Luxurious fashion is like chocolate. We take it in whatever form and there’s never such thing as a small dose. Living-la-vida-fashionista however, does not have to mean having to spend the big bucks.
Thanks to the inspired vision of four young women to provide ladies with affordable glamour, avant-garde designs of women’s clothing are now within our reach. ATAVIO, meaning “attire” in Spanish is the brainchild of Carmeli Bantug, Angela Tucay, Johanna Joy Go, and Jennifer Elaine Tadena-de Jesus. “We were all school mates at The Fashion Institute of the Philippines where we all decided to put up a women’s clothing line out of frustration with some local brands that sell overpriced clothing. We all have a passion for fashion and what better way to share this than by designing a line where we can express our sense of style to the local market at affordable prices,” shares Meli who came up with the brand name.
The women’s clothing line was officially launched at Piedra bar, at The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City on December 6, 2007 where a fashion show exhibited ATAVIO’S upcoming collection, as well as couture pieces from the designers’ graduation show at fashion school.
ATAVIO’s design philosophy is creating comfortable, versatile pieces that can be worn from day to night. “What makes us different is that all of us are very hands on with our work. We conceptualize, design, do the patterns, and sometimes  do the sewing ourselves. We also accept made-to-order requests,” Angela states. And when asked who their style icons are, they all excitingly share, “We love Stella McCartney. We also try to combine the classic looks of Grace Kelly, Jackie O., and Audrey Hepburn alongside the trendier ones such as Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba.”
Consequently, their first collection of women’s clothing received much rave from its first clients. Best sellers include the hoodie dress (available in white or red) and the blue- wave tube dress. Other must-haves would be ATAVIO’s paisley shift dress, white layered dress, and the doily dress. With prices ranging from 550 to 1550 pesos, it would be a sin not to avail of their designs. And with the increasingly growing demand for their dresses, tops, and bottoms, the ATAVIO team hopes of opening their very own boutique soon and establishing their line as one of the most sought after brands in the local fashion industry.
For us, women, putting an ensemble together is a much celebrated ritual that demands style, creativity, and some cash of course. And so, to have an “attire” that is both beautifully designed and budget friendly, definitely makes the life of any fashion enthusiast, a little bit easier and a lot more glamorous.
Watch out for ATAVIO’s Moonlight Dreams Collection of women’s clothing and more at their 88DB ad profile. |
