People

Kryz Uy just designed your next fashion buy

Fashion blogger Kryz Uy launches a passion project that marries local resources and craftsmanship with the intoxicating appeal of running away from home.

“Which one’s your favorite?” Kryz Uy asks me as we check out the bags from her new February Lifestyle line on the table during the photo shoot. Her excitement is palpable as she talks about each one, and nods excitedly when I say I preferred the ant-riddled Sweet Like Sugar. “That’s the one that the fashion girls really like because it’s so different,” she shares. “Yuppies like the Take Chances sling because it’s a simple but pretty design, and moms like the Let’s Get Lost tote since it’s so big and they can fit everything in it.”

Since its launch earlier this year, February Lifestyle is seeing a solid following—and it’s not just because it has one of the country’s top bloggers at the helm. Kryz started her fashion blog in college, long before the rest of us understood the meaning of online presence, and her Thirsty Thought page sees thousands of readers who are constantly on the lookout for style, beauty and even life advice. It might have been easy to bask in that success, but Kryz isn’t one to rest on her laurels.

Kryz Uy’s latest passion project is a bag line that marries local resources and craftsmanship with the intoxicating appeal of running away from home. (Photography by Ezekiel Sullano/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)

“I wanted to start a brand because I wanted to have something that, even after this whole blogger thing blows over, will encapsulate what I keep preaching about on the blog—how you should always be yourself and just do you,” Kryz explains. “I thought I’d come up with the line that is able to say that, and also promotes what I’m all about—traveling, having fun, working hard but also giving yourself time to breath.”

The sentiment was easy to come up with, but the process was a different story. Kryz had to consider all the different products she could come up with before finally deciding on what to put out. “It had to be a fashion item, because I’m a fashion blogger,” she declared. After flirting with the idea of a shoe or clothing line, she decided to go with bags and accessories, and gave called it February Lifestyle.

“It’s something we take for granted—we never really think about the month February,” she laughs “I named it February because it’s the only month of the year with 28 days, but every fourth year it gives us a surprise leap day. For some, it’s the month of love, but the lonely ones are always saying they hate February, it’s depressing. To us, it’s such a hot month, but all the way around the world, it’s really cold. So I’m saying that with February, you never really know what to expect.”

The thought process that went into the line goes beyond its design, and might be a testament to why Kryz is such a formidable presence in her industry. “I started conceptualizing everything last summer, so it’s been a year,” she shares when I asked how long the line has been in the making. “I would not allow myself to come up with a product that I wasn’t happy with, so there were a million tweaks and changes, and a lot of bag designs that I completely scrapped because it wasn’t working.”

It turned out for the best—February Lifestyle’s first collection is a trio of bags that are perfect conversation pieces for your next brunch with the girls. The roomy Let’s Get Lost tote is made of woven pandan, while the sleeker Take Chances and Sweet Like Sugar slings are from local raffia. Everything is handmade, with the only machinery involved in production being a sewing machine. “Even the metal details are hand-molded,” she adds.

The Take Chances sling, the Let’s Get Lost tote, and the Sweet Like Sugar purse (Photography by Ezekiel Sullano/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016)

“These things I’m doing—100% handmade, we’re giving local artisans livelihood, promoting local materials—they aren’t new things. We hear it a lot, but if you’re a fashion person, it can be, ‘that’s good, but I wouldn’t wear it,’” Kryz admits. She flips the limitation on its head, instead seeing it as a challenge to use these materials in a new light. “It’s like banig bags. People in the Philippines might find banig boring, or that they don’t think a banig bag would be something stylish. But when you design it in a certain way that promotes quirkiness or fashion or travel, you give it new life and new meaning. People start to look at it differently.”

Tropical elements dominate the designs, which Kryz says was a conscious way to pay tribute to her other passion. “I love traveling. I feel like there are so many people in the world, especially in Asia, who are so obsessed with work,” she shares. “And for me, when I think of vacations, I think of tropical places and island getaways. I want people to look at it and know it’s a vacation bag, and it makes them feel good. And it’s also using local materials, but putting ants on them. We made it weird. We made it a statement piece.”

With the amount of time that goes into a collection, Kryz sheepishly admits she doesn’t want to give an exact date for her holiday collection. “I’ll probably do two collections in a year,” she shares. As for the first one, she’ll soon be consigning at Cabana in Banilad Town Center and hopefully more locations soon.

If someone can get you to carry an ant-riddled purse around, it’d definitely be Kryz Uy. The fashionable and individualistic blogger is all about staying true to yourself—in fact, the bags are shipped with motivational saying slipped into the package and one of my favorites is one that says, “Love Your Madness.” Kryz Uy is creating pieces that certainly lean on the quirky, but it seems the secret to her success may be finding the method to the madness.

photography Ezekiel Sullano makeup Janice Barillo hair Gino Fonghe locale District on 53rd
Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2016. For back issues, subscribe via Magzter

Related Topics:District on 53rd February Lifestyle Kryz Uy

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Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.

Nora Sol, Beth Go, Frances Siao and Marylou Ong

Ina Ronquillo, Maryanne Aboitiz and Jackie Lotzof

Designers Jun Escario and Philip Rodriguez

Philip Rodriguez with NUSTAR Malls two power ladies: May Adolfo and Joanna Salazar

Lana Osmeña with Mariquita Yeung

PJ Castillo and Kaye Abad with Cary Santiago

Drew Sarmiento with LV Manager Adrian Decuigan

Cary Santiago with Eva Gullas

Manila socialites Julie Boschi and Ching Cruz with June Alegrado

It was a night of elegance, luxury, and unforgettable memories as ladies in long gowns and gentlemen in black ties danced the night away.

Design

Filipino graphic designer makes history, joins Switzerland’s Museum of Avant-garde among genre’s greats

PJ Ong of Inodoro, an internationally renowned graphic designer, is the first Filipino whose work will be part of the permanent collection of Switzerland’s Museum of Avant-garde

CEBU CITY — In a groundbreaking achievement, Cebu-based graphic designer and art director PJ Ong of Inodoro Design Studio, is set to become the first Filipino artist permanently exhibited at Museum of Avant-garde (MA-g) in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Cebu-based graphic designer and art director of Inodoro Design Studio, PJ Ong

Ong’s recognition at MA-g places him among over 250 avant-garde artists, including iconic figures like Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp, signifying a profound milestone in museum history.

“Avant-garde,” is a term that refers to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.

“I am extremely honored and humbled. It is a remarkable milestone in my creative journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a prominent platform. The acknowledgment, especially considering Switzerland’s exacting standards in art and design, is truly fulfilling,” said Ong.

Part of a stellar contemporary collection

Under the museum’s Contemporary Collection, Ong will join global contemporary agencies such as M/M Paris (collaborator of Icelandic singer-songwriter and composer, Björk), WORK Pte Ltd (brainchild of the “Godfather of Singapore Graphic Design,” Theseus Chan), Bedow (Stockholm), BVD Stockholm AB (Stockholm), Socio Design (London) and Milkxhake (Hong Kong), among others.

Ong’s music packaging design for the Filipino harsh noise duo, White Widow, will be featured in the museum. The band’s album “The God Uterus Dissolves” — released under Melt Records — features an unconventional cassette tape packaging incorporating a hand-crafted wire mesh, elevating it into a unique and bespoke collector’s item.

The museum’s selection process for its Contemporary Collection involved three categories: Graphic Design, Photography, and Illustration. Swiss-Canadian Fritz Gottschalk, a prominent figure in contemporary graphic design, led the Graphic Design category.

“This is profoundly validating for me as a graphic designer. Being part of a museum’s permanent contemporary collection is a lasting testament to my capabilities as an artist,” said Ong.

‘Poetry you can touch’

The graphic designer from Cebu City further defined the album as a “deliberate departure from the ordinary,” stating that it was a testament to the artist’s and band’s dedication to pushing boundaries and offering the audience a unique and immersive experience.

“Careful consideration was given to every detail, including choosing a premium supplier for the cassette tape. Opting for a screen-printed cassette, where design elements were applied directly to the surface, gave it a contemporary and visually striking result, helping us reinforce the design narrative,” said Ong.

“From the cohesive placement of elements to using symbols instead of track titles on the spine and customizing fonts, every aspect was carefully thought out. Rather than opting for the conventional wire mesh treatment on print, I took a bold step by incorporating a hand-crafted wire mesh, adding a unique and sensory dimension to the album — almost like poetry you can touch.”

Profound honor

Established in 2003, Inodoro Design Studio under Ong’s leadership has garnered global acclaim for its bold design philosophy, spanning music, fashion, architecture, culture and technology. In becoming the first Filipino whose work will be on display at the MA-g, Ong stated that it is “particularly humbling.”

“Traditionally, these privileges are given to individuals who have amassed decades of experience, attained mastery in their craft, or even as a posthumous acknowledgment. To be among those selected is a profound and unexpected honor,” he said.

“Museums typically focus on visual artists, and for a graphic designer, especially within the realm of commercial work, recognition can be more elusive. I appreciate the challenges of this less conventional route and I am committed to proving the significance of graphic design in the broader artistic landscape.”

Art enthusiasts can anticipate viewing Ong’s work with “The God Uterus Dissolves” at MA-g, scheduled to open to the general public in 2025.

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About The Museum of Avant-garde (MA-g)

The Museum of Avant-garde compiles an original body of work from private collections, providing a unique perspective on the cultural and artistic significance of avant-garde movements. These movements, synonymous with transformative ideologies and daring experimentations, played a pivotal role in challenging political and societal conventions. For more information, visit www.ma-g.org.

About Inodoro

Inodoro is the creative moniker of graphic designer and art director PJ Ong, a prominent figure in the Philippine design scene. Established in 2003, Inodoro Design Studio, based in Cebu, Philippines, has garnered international recognition for its bold and distinctive design, with a focus on thought-driven imagery and iconic visual language. The studio specializes in identities, custom typography, graphic design and art direction. For more information, visit www.inodoro-design.com.

People

Ladies Who Support Ladies

Women’s Circle is an organization composed of Cebuano ladies who are successful entrepreneurs and top executives. They recently held a fellowship event at the Sheraton Mactan Resort, with special guests from the Women’s Business Council Philippines. Chairperson, Rosemarie Rafael and Council Secretary Cynthia Mamon both flew in from Manila to discuss alliances between the Cebu and Manila groups.

Loot bag from Jo Malone, Sheraton, R&M Chocomanga, gift card from Maayo Clinic, sarong from Ferimar.

The half day event was organized by Perl Jacalan, Gina Atienza and Eva Gullas. Sheraton Resort through its GM Dottie Wugler Cronin supported the event as it is aligned with the hotel’s women initiatives. The successful event was made more fun with generous give-aways, notably Jo Malone perfumes, Sheraton bags, R&M Chocomanga and sarongs from Ferimar.