ArteFino 2018: Bibai Gaisano-Puyat Helps A Community Of Artisanal Burdaderas With Her Clothing Brand, Christiana Manila
Who is Christiana Manila? You can think of her as your wardrobe stylist, your personal shopper, or even your best friend who simply wants you to feel beautiful and confident in whatever you wear. She curates chic and understatedly elegant clothes for you—easy-to-wear, easy-to-pair pieces that are bold and statement-making without looking flashy.
What she offers are perfect for the modern, independent woman that you are. She puts special attention on how the clothes hug your body best and celebrate your form. The clothes, timeless in style, are designed to stay in your wardrobe for a long time.
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Christiana Manila's aesthetic is all about three elements: feminine elegance, thoughtful design, and quiet confidence, embodying every Filipina's fashion sense and answering every woman's need for tasteful and comfy clothes. As a brand, Christiana Manila was established as an online women's clothing store, specifically created for the convenience of multifaceted, on-the-go women—imagine how fun and easy it is to virtual-shop and get your orders at your doorstep!
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Photo courtesy of Metro Society
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Bibai Gaisano-Puyat says that Christiana Manila was established in 2016, when she was a new mom and felt like she needed a wardrobe change or update. "I was looking for clothes that I feel would represent who I am as a woman at the time," the entrepreneur behind this proudly Filipino clothing brand shares.
But much more than selling clothes, what's more important and interesting is the creative process that goes behind each and every piece. Bibai has always thought of Christiana Manila as a medium to help local artisans and communities.
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Stepping out of the cyberworld, Christiana Manila is one of the brands that will be participating at this year's ArteFino, a premier artisan fair that highlights the finest in the Filipino. With “local is the new international” as the central theme of ArteFino 2018, this brand fits right in perfectly. Bibai and her team collaborated with Laguna-based embroiderers at La Burda de Filipina who use calado, a Lumban technique that separates the piña fabric by hand, creating a net-like effect on the cloth.
"Ever since I started Christiana, I've always wanted to help a community, and I feel like in joining ArteFino, it's a good opportunity for me to do just that," Bibai says.
Produced by Joan Ko
Video by Marie Francia, Marnie Giron, and Berwin Coroza
Video editing by Berwin Coroza
Photos from @christianamanila @metrosocietyph
