Editor’s Picks: Look what local artisans made for Floret: raffia, marble, clay and capiz decor

The love for things made with Filipino creativity continues with the blossoming of  a new concept called Floret.

Introduced with a new collection of handcrafted home decor designed in collaboration with Filipino artisans, Floret made its debut at the ongoing ArteFino fair which is on its last day today in Rockwell.

It’s not actually just a concept. Floret is the new name of Rustan’s Flower Shop which for decades has been known for its floral arrangements.

“The evolution signals more than just a name change — it’s a blossoming of all that we’ve stood for and for all that we aim to be,” says Floret president Pam Gonzales-Lopez.

“While honoring the elegance and craftsmanship that have defined us for years, Floret now offers a broader selection of florals, homeware, food gifts and event-styling services,” Pam adds.

“With a renewed spirit  and an inspired team of florists and designers, we now have Floret Fresh, Floret Home, Floret Events and Floret Local,” explains Pam.

Floret Local proudly unveils its line of home decor made of clay, raffia and marble, and its exquisite candles and tassels. “Each piece carries with it a soul, a history and a connection to the richness of Philippine crafts,” Pam says.

Floret Home is available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La, Alabang and Cebu, while Floret Fresh is found at The Marketplace in Rustan’s Makati and Rockwell’s Power Plant Mall.

Scene & Heard

Menchu Lopez and her eight-room hotel

While Metro Manila was reeling from stormy weather and assorted urban vexations, a charming boutique hotel quietly ensconced itself in the refreshing refuge that is Tagaytay.

Called Hotel 8 — because it has only eight rooms — this is a dream project of retailer-restaurateur Menchu Tantoco-Lopez.

Famously known for the success of Starbucks — which now has 500 branches nationwide and counting, thanks to the business brilliance of her husband Jun Lopez, Menchu and their children — Menchu has also established Pinkberry, Bon Appetit and Benny’s (a tribute to the Rustan’s Group patriarch Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco). Coming next is  Bon Bakery.

Inside the four-story Hotel 8 are two restaurants: Bon Appetit and Judon, a Japanese dining place.

Why Judon? “It is a combination of Jun and Dondon,” explains Menchu. “Dondon is the nickname of Jun,meaning ‘Little Don.’ His father, the late Don Eduardo Lopez, was quite an inspiration in their Bacolod hacienda.”

Aside from these restos and the hotel, Menchu also established Gourmet Garage and 1120 House which are known to gourmets and gourmands for their fine food selections. She is the chairman of Rustan’s Flower Shop which has now been rebranded into Floret, headed by her daughter-in-law Pam Gonzales-Lopez.

Enterpreneurial and hardworking like her siblings — Rico, Marilou, Marilen, Maritess and, of course, Nedy who was the leading force of Rustan’s before she passed away last year — the restless Menchu has more dream projects up her sleeve. year — the restless Menchu has more dream projects up her sleeve.

Quote/Unquote

Menchu Tantoco-Lopez:

Retail is detail.” This is what Menchu always remembers from among the many lessons that Rustan’s matriarch Glecy Rustia-Tantoco taught the Tantoco siblings.

“Keeping an eye on details really is a big factor in the success of a business — whether it be in the retail or restaurant business,” said Menchu with the wink of an eye behind her signature huge white-framed eyeglasses.

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