Poi necklace wins Special Citation for Eco-Design
PASAY CITY, Philippines (March 17, 2014) – Rising fashion design house Floreia received a special distinction from the prestigious Katha Awards at the 59th Manila FAME held from March 14-17, 2014.
Floreia’s poi necklace (designed by Marivic Licardo) won this year’s Special Citation for Eco-Design for products that emulate sustainability and eco-friendliness. A first for the two-year old company, the award was an unexpected recognition for Carlo Delantar, administrative manager of Floreia, whose family started the company.
“It’s an honor to have received a prestigious award. We joined Manila FAME to promote our products, and to further help the communities that we help,” says Delantar.
At present, Floreia and its sister company Nature’s Legacy is supporting the livelihood, housing and education of eight communities in Cebu province. They are expecting to grow it to 10 communities of about 100 craftsmen by mid-2014.
“We have two materials called Naturescast and Nucast, developed by Nature’s Legacy.Nature’s Legacy owns patent and copyright in the US, Europe, Philippines, Vietnam and China of the following product lines: engineered Stonecast material Brauncast®, handmade polymer and polyester resins line called Marmorcast®, and recycled paper material NuCast®.
Indigenous materials such as local stone, dead shrubs, and fallen twigs and branches are processed and combined with other mix media using fully integrated manufacturing methods to produce original innovative designs which are executed with superior quality craftsmanship that have been very well received in the world market.
From sourcing to processing to making the products piece by piece, people in our communities make these products by hand,” Carlo explains. “They are the most significant people that inspired me because I saw how they need livelihood, and the only way for us to give them that is to push the product.”
Carlo’s business acumen stems from parents Pete and Cathy Delantar, known for their eco innovation and exceptional entrepreneurship skills. The young Delantar takes it from them his version of what success is: “Failure is about doing mistakes once. Then you learn your mistakes, you don’t do it again. And that drives one to be successful.”
As he runs his own business, Carlo continues his parents’ legacy for pioneering sustainable technology, now in the field of fashion. “We push Floreianot just as a trend, especially now when being eco friendly and sustainable is a trend. We want people to see it beyond a trend and aim for it as a lifestyle.”
===
About Floreia
Floreia is a trademark of CVD Ventures Inc., and a sister company of Nature’s Legacy. Floreia is a rising global jewelry design house and manufacturer of fashion products made from natural, low carbon impact materials.
Floreia is founded on core values of client satisfaction, social and environmental responsibility. We are dedicated to excellence in design, innovation, the use of natural, safely-sources raw materials, and employee development.
Floreia is a tribute to the mothers (Florencia and Victoria) who raised Pete and Cathy Delantar with endless love and passion and values toward environment and people.
It was launched during the Manila FAME International last March 14-17, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City and during Asia’s Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Fair last June 21-24, 2012 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Hong Kong.
About Katha Awards
The Katha Award is a special distinction presented to exporters and designers whose products embody exceptional quality and high-caliber design in furniture, homeware and furnishings, holiday décor and gifts, and fashion. It is an important hallmark of design excellence and innovation, inspiring and challenging exporters and designers to constantly create fresh and original designs that are relevant in the global market.
The Katha Awards’ categories include Best Product Design which distinguishes innovative designs, each from furniture, homeware and furnishings, holiday décor and gifts, and fashion; Best Booth Display that recognizes booth designs at Manila FAME that capture smart and effective visual merchandising display; and a special citation of Eco-Design for products that emulate sustainability and eco-friendliness.
The Katha Award is a component of the Design Week Philippines, a week-long celebration of design through various events and programs scheduled around the Manila FAME trade show.
About Manila FAME
Manila FAME (www.manilafame.com) is the country’s premier trade platform for exports and design, providing opportunities for small and medium scale entrepreneurs to showcase their products in the world market. Manila FAME is one of the longest running trade shows in the Asia-Pacific, featuring the latest Philippine-made creations from artisans and manufacturers and is the only trade event in the country approved by UFI (www.ufi.org), the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
The biannual event is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade Industry (DTI).
