Now that we are living in a world where distancing no longer means being aloof from people but instead signifies a vital factor for survival, people are exploring new ways to connect beyond physical interactions.
Without hugs, kisses, or even hand shakes, the physical world can be no different to how we are from virtual realities—ever present but distant at the same time. But even with simple words, a digital greeting can mean so much to others.
That's what Maison Métisse's social bags are for: To bring a light of positivity through words that are essential in making a connection, even beyond the digital realm. Because sometimes, a "kamusta" is all we need to get through the day.
These social totes bearing greetings such as kamusta, bonjour, and hola are handwoven with tikog and buri leaves by Filipino artisans using the banig technique, a centuries-old tradition. These bags are part of the maison's newest collection "Le Savoir-Faire," which also presents heritage weaving techniques and hand dyed textiles.
Led by fashion designer Adrienne Charuel, Maison Métisse, hailed from the French word meaning a woman of mixed ancestry, is dedicated to showcase honest and ethical fashion this season, mixing traditions with modern lifestyle.
The collection features sugarcane fabric, pineapple cotton blend, pure cotton, and pure handwoven silk, all made with sustainable fibers produced in the Philippine island.
"We really care about heritage at Maison Métisse. It's important for me as a Filipina to celebrate our cultural heritage and show the beautiful creativity that we can make in collaboration with our local communities and indigenous tribes. I also want to show how we can have a contemporary interpretation of native beauty whilst respecting the time old traditions of the Filipino People. We do this by taking inspiration from world heritage such as Japan and Mexico and combining it with Filipino craftsmanship," Adrienne tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. "Our items feature a lot of hand artistry. From the hand dyeing and hand painting to hand embroidery. From an idea to and the capacity to realize it with utmost care and attention takes time. It’s a process that is sacred to me, to our team, and communities - it's respecting time old traditions and heritage while we create a different expression of it."
This season, the brand envisions holiday dressing with relaxed silhouettes painted with earthy tones of nude, tangerine, blush, grey, and indigo featuring the Shibori hand dyeing techniques and the sacred hand embroidery by the Philippine Itneg Tribe which symbolizes a good harvest from honest hard work.
"What we do here is more of a craft and it takes lots of time to develop a collection or even just the pieces," she says. "We deeply care about how we make our creations, what they are made of, who we create with, and who we create them for. We also reflect on the impact of our creative process on our planet and people, minimizing any waste and uplifting as much as we can."
Check out more of Maison Métisse's social tote bags and the "Le Savoir-Faire" on its website www.maison-metisse.com and @maison.metisse on Instagram. See the collection in person in its boutique pop-up at Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City.