RIIR DESIGNER LINE ups the fashion ante with the recent unveiling of its latest collection, an awe-inspiring collaboration with no less than internationally-acclaimed Filipino couture designer Oliver Tolentino. Dubbed “MaKULAY,” a wordplay of “ma” (mother) and “kulay” (color), the collection aims to pay tribute to the remarkable mothers in Philippine history through the exquisite splash of colour in Tolentino’s design.

Bright and warm tones are the couler de jour with RIIR - Tolentino’s vibrant line-up of elegant handbags. Launched at The Gallery of Greenbelt 5 in Ayala Center, Makati City, the limited edition designer pieces showcased the ingenuity of Tolentino and the enduring craftsmanship of empowered women from the Payatas community who meticulously weaved the fabrics for the entire collection.

“My inspiration was joy and hope. I wanted the women making the bags, who may feel they live in a grey world, to work with beautiful, cheerful colors and see the possibilities of a vibrant future,” Tolentino said.

Gracefully poised muses decked in newspaper dresses were the canvasses for the hues highlighted in the RIIR-Tolentino MaKULAY exhibit attended by stalwarts in the fashion industry, enthusiasts, and advocates for eco-ethical style. The newspaper dresses were fashioned by innovative young designers Noelle Llave, Camille Co, Kaye Morales and Nino Angeles from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA).



Tolentino, one of the most celebrated international haute designers today is a homegrown talent whose slew of recognitions include being named Designer of the Week in March, 2011 at the prestigious Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Springs, California, USA; winner of the Sustainable Eco Fashion Award in 2010 at the Islands of the World Fashion Week in the Bahamas; and one of the finalists at the Oscars Designer Challenge in 2010, among others. His collections have been regularly featured in international glossy titles like Beverly Hills Lifestyle, Serendipity, and Hong Kong Tatler.

His creations have been worn by three Grammy winners, two Emmy winners, an Oscar nominee, an NAACP Image Award winner, and by attendees at the esteemed Oscars and the Golden Globes Awards. Hollywood celebrities Cee Lo Green, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Sophia Bush, Kimora Lee Simmons, Vivica Fox, Patty Austin, Macy Gray, Arnel Pineda, Lea Salonga, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Camille Grammer, Niecy Nash, Tatyana Ali, Eva La Rue, Wendy Davis, and Aly Michalka have all worn his designs.

Tolentino is known for promoting local fabrics and Filipino culture through his pieces. He is a staunch advocate of eco-ethical style, a coalescence of fashion, social responsibility and preservation of the environment.

About RIIR 

RIIR is an emerging global designer line that was initially established as a social business enterprise armed with a vision to uplift the poor community of Payatas. Now a global Filipino brand, RIIR is one of the most successful designer lines in the Philippines and Asia that promote eco-ethical lifestyle through its products and business philosophy. To know more about RIIR’s social statement and latest designer collections, log on to www.rags2riches.ph.