Designers’ Holiday Bazaar: Shopping for a cause

Today, Saturday, and tomorrow, high society and discriminating gift-givers go shopping at the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar (DHB to its clientele) at the activity center of Glorietta 2 in Ayala Center, Makati City.

DHB designers Ding Perez, Techie Hagedorn, Bea Zobel de Ayala and Sofia Zobel Elizalde.

An annual charity fund-raising event started by Bea Zobel Jr. 10 years ago, DHB has since grown as more designers have joined it through the years, many of them making their designs available locally only during the holiday season. The rest of the year, they focus on the international market. Hence, this is one shopping happening that members of Manila’s social set look forward to.

AMBASSADOR Isabel Caro Wilson.
AMBASSADOR Jaime Zobel de Ayala and Maribel Ongpin.
MARIBEL Ongpin with Bea Zobel
KAREN Santos

According to Sofia Elizalde, her sister Bea “got together with a group of wonderful designers, such as Bea Roxas, Karen Santos and Maricris Brias, to put together a designers’ holiday bazaar. Bea wanted it to be a fundraiser to help scholars that she was giving free education to.

MIA Borromeo with Cristina Davila.
MARICRIS Floirendo and Santi Elizalde.
KOURTNEY Camcam, Nicole Ortega, Bambina Olivares and Anne Marie Saguil.

“She invited me to join a few years ago as she loved that I was also giving free education to my dance scholars through The Steps Scholarship Foundation,” Sofia shared.

Sofia was beaming with pride in the recent opening of DHB when Steps students presented a Christmas showcase to the delight of the mesmerized crowd. Children who were with their parents cheerily had their pictures taken, indeed proving that Christmas is for children and the childlike.

HANDWOVEN mats from KANYA by Bea Roxas.
FROM Mabolo by Antonio and Gema Garcia.
CONCH shells from Mabolo by Antonio and Gema Garcia.
HONEY from Museo Pambata.
Minaudieres designed by Carissa Cruz-Evangelista for Beatriz.
Carissa Cruz Evangelista shows off her minaudieres for her Beatriz label.
Novelty bags by Carissa Cruz-Evangelista for Beatriz

As the sisters Bea and Sofia have since been at the forefront of this most-awaited meeting of the best and most creative Filipino designers, it’s no wonder that for its duration, one bumps into old friends, the cream of society, and since people had for the longest time not left their homes, nothing was more inviting than shopping at the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar.

FROM Caro Wilson.
HANDICRAFTS from Bea Zobel.
FASHIONABLE clutch bag.
PLANT from Mabolo by Antonio and Gema Garcia.
ARTISANAL place mats by Kassa.
CHIC jewelry.
BALLET dancers from Steps Dance Studio.

So, there, if you want truly beautiful and unique gift items, be sure to go early to the HBD where shopping indeed is not just a source of joy, but also of fun times with dear old friends and family. Not only will you help deserving ballet students of Sofia’s Steps Dance studio, you will also contribute to the development of the Philippine creative industry, as your patronage of our very own speaks eloquently of our respect and admiration for Filipino artistry and ingenuity.  

JOJO Silvestre with Sofia Zobel Elizalde.
Sofia Zobel Elizalde with Marc David Nathan.
PETIT Olbes with Jojo Silvestre
SOFIA Zobel with Diana Limjoco.
TECHIE Hagedorn with Sofia Zobel Elizalde.

Again, salute to Bea and Sofia, and to everyone, have a merry Christmas shopping time at the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar.