LOOK: Catriona Gray tries on handcrafted shoe named after her
By John Legaspi
Better practice your lava walk in this handmade beauty.
Not only did Catriona Gray make us proud by winning the country’s fourth Miss Universe crown, she also brought honor to the Philippines by bringing local fashion to the global stage. Even though her reign has ended, she continues to champion Filipino culture through her own platform.
On a recent trip to Laguna, Catriona, ambassadress for the One Town, One Product (OTOP) PH program by the Department of Tourism, met the people behind the province’s crafts as part of her #RaiseYourFlag series.
“With so much of the community feeling the effects of the pandemic, I feel that my #RaiseYourFlag series has an even bigger purpose,” she says. “I am lending my platform to our Filipino small businesses, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs to give them a hand up, to showcase their talent, creativity, and ingenuity along with their stories in hopes that we can overcome the challenges, together.”
From discovering Laguna’s tastiest delicacies and sustainability efforts to finding the first cotton twinning industry in the country, Catriona’s trip made us long for our own travel goals. But from all the things she saw in Laguna, what caught our attention were the shoes she wore in one of her visits. Guess what, a special footwear is named after the beauty queen herself.
Designed by Liliw-based brand Aishe Footwear, the Catriona abaca mules feature materials locally sourced, all handcrafted by sapateros in Liliw, with an embroidered three stars and a sun emblem as a finishing touch.
“Kinikilig ako kasi Filipino brand Aishe Footwear created shoes in my honor,” she says. “I was even able to experience putting together my own pair of the ‘Catriona shoe!’”
The mules are among the many creations of the brand. Based in the Tsinelas Capital of the country, Aishe Footwear produces many kinds of artisan shoes, in a variety of aesthetics—including crocheted and patchwork—in colors mirroring the town’s vibrant culture.
With Philippine style and destinations at the forefront, we cannot wait to see what’s next in Catriona's next local adventures.