Let's take it slow
Cooped up in our homes, we have been given time to slow things down, perhaps rediscover an untapped aspect of ourselves and do more things with our hands and bodies.
For fashion stylist Meg Manzano, the lockdown had her thinking of pieces she wished she had in her closet, and she found herself dabbling in design in collaboration with slow fashion activewear brand The Shape Shop for a 12-piece capsule collection.
Après sport was the initial idea, Meg admits, but the result is very athleisure. There’s the same functionality expressed in workout clothing. It is body-aware but not constricting. It wicks sweat and is wrinkle-resistant. It’s comfortable like loungewear but put-together enough to be worn out. The Rae leggings and the Max bicycle shorts even have a row of covered buttons for a tailored look. I wear them to roll around at home, but putting them on is also uplifting — a remedy for waning motivation.
This collection has the sexy elegance of Meg’s style that the pieces can translate to ready-to-wear and be worn with items you already own. The Louella onesie in the collection, for example, has cap sleeves and works alone or under high-waist trousers, or under the Maila boiler suit worn halfway as trousers.
Multi-way pieces like these stretch our clothes’ mileage. Another way is sharing closets, which Meg was lucky to do with her mother and sister growing up. In this way, she experienced early on how wonderful it is when clothing is carefully considered so it can fit every body type and style expression.
“The Mila dress is named after my mom in homage to her days of sundresses,” shares Meg, referring to a reversible sleeveless dress with pockets. “The Maila boiler suit is playfully named because I always joke that my sister is a hothead.”
Made locally in limited quantities by a team of eight, the pieces are made as you order them and are shipped after a week. This keeps the team safe, eliminates waste, and keeps all items reasonably priced. The most expensive item is the boiler suit at P3,500, while the onesie is only P1,995, only next to two accessories made from retaso, the Nicola belt and the Elana hat, both fashioned from segments of excess fabric at P1,495.
TheShapeShop is available online via www.theshapeshop.store or in-store at Aura Athletica, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell.
