What do Tingting Conjuangco, Lulu Tan Gan, Divine Lee, KC Concepcion, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Boy Abunda have in common?
All of these celebrities have, hanging in their closets somewhere, pieces of BOBON by Puey Quiñones (by the Urban Lifestyles Inc.).
With their (assumed) emphasis on fashion alone, however, what these people may not know is that by simply having these pieces from BOBON by Puey Quiñones (by the Urban Lifestyles Inc.)., they have – consciously or not – become supporters of sustainable fashion (or at least fashion as a tool to push sustainability).
BOBON by Puey Quiñones is a high-end fashion house that is a partnership between, as the name too-apparently implies, designer Quiñones and Ulysses King Jr., co-founder and current president and general manager of Urban Lifestyles Inc.
“We at BOBON believe that what you wear and where you shop is a reflection of who you are and what you stand for,” King was earlier quoted as saying.
As such, and King stressed, “this belief will always be identified with us, and we will try our best to communicate this idea to the industry by way of presenting a showcase of eco-friendly clothing and designs.”
To promote eco-fashion, BOBON – in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University – came up with Maya, an eco-friendly line geared towards the youth. Maya, the Hindu word for “one with nature,” includes pins and T-shirts with slogans like: “I cut class, not trees,” as well as Quiñones’ signature paint-splattered designs, made by Quiñones’ students in Bilibid Prison, where the designer teaches classes in fashion and painting.
“BOBON takes pride in this thriving advocacy, and, hopefully, will be recognized as one of the pioneers (of greening the industry), at least in the designer shop category of high fashion retailing,” King said.
It helps, of course, that eco-fashion is on the rise, which is something important – stressed King – because “everyone has to learn the impact of their choices to Mother Earth, and should make a share even in small ways.”
Yes, not everyone is necessarily happy with BOBON’s moves, claiming that their sustainable lines are forms of… greenwashing (GASP!).
King noted how people “think (that what we’re doing) is a form of advertising and gimmick.”
Not that the people behind BOBON denies this, actually.
“Yes, it’s a promotional campaign because we believe in our designs and creations,” King said. “But it is also a way of doing good by collaborating with, and not abusing the environment.”
For more information on BOBON by Puey Quiñones, contact Urban Lifestyles Inc. at 4F The Podium, 18 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City; call (+632) 6373321; or email bobonbypuey@yahoo.com.
