LAST but not the LEAST

by Dinna Chan Vasquez

In Ireland, people say “grand” when they mean nice or impressive. But grand, when used to describe the newly opened Greenbelt 5, is very apt.

After observations and even complaints that Greenbelt 2 and 3 are not really shopping haunts but dining destinations, Ayala Land first opened Greenbelt 4 to house posh brands like Louis Vuitton, Tod’s and Gucci. Then, it opened Greenbelt 5, which goes a step further with a mix of international luxury brands and Filipino clothing and accessory designers.

International luxury brands include Paul Smith, Kiehl’s, Bang & Olufsen, Rafe, Celestina, Michael Kors, Escada, Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Bally, Kenneth Cole, Furla, Laurel, Escada Sport and Ben Sherman. But that’s not even half of the Greenbelt 5 story.

After all, Greenbelt 5 is considered to be the culminating piece to Ayala Land’s development efforts to make the 12-hectare complex the premier lifestyle center in the country.

Through the years, Greenbelt has been known for providing the perfect haven for frequent travelers, aspiring chefs, food lovers and quirky interior designers. In other words, for people who have got style.

Greenbelt 5 is very Filipino in terms of its interiors and landscaping but it is not what you would expect. It is, indeed, very grand.

“The vision of Greenbelt 5 is to provide Filipinos with the proper avenue to showcase their talents. It provides a one-of-a-kind shopping and dining experience that can’t be found elsewhere in the country,” says Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Malls vice president and deputy group head.

Outside, one can see landscaped gardens with pitogo, oliva, emperialis, pakpak lawin, zamio, sellum, philodendron, torch ginger, levistonia palm, royal palm, Eugenia, giant red crinum, aglonema, kamuning, red and pink ginger, miagos, tree fern, giant fern, spathyphylum and different kinds of bamboo. It could be your dream garden if you have the patience of Martha Stewart or the means to hire two full-time gardeners.

Ayala Malls marketing division manager Cathy Bengzon explains that greenery is very much a part of every Ayala mall, most especially Greenbelt.

“We want shoppers to feel that they’re in an oasis, not the central business district. But the great thing is that you’re here, with everything at your fingertips,” she adds.

Greenbelt 5 is 80 percent retail and 20 percent dining. Bengzon says Greenbelt 2 and 3 are really the dining destinations although there are a number of restaurants here such as Cibo, Felix, Chateau 1771, Myron’s Place, Zuni, Classic Confections, Fely J’s Kitchen,Travel Café, La Maison, Pia Y Damaso, John & Yoko, Fish Out of Water and Solihiya.

Greenbelt 5, she explains, is a shopping destination for fashionistas. Not the brand-conscious, label victim fashionista but those who are well traveled, love clothes and dressing up and appreciate originality.

Greenbelt 5 is also about “loving your own” with the Filipino Zone, an eclectic showcase of lifestyle products and fashion with global appeal. The boutiques feature local fashion and accessory designers Randy Ortiz, Jojie Lloren, Dennis Lustico, Ivarluski Aseron, Joey Samson, Henri Calayag, Doltz Pilar, Lila Almario, Amina Aranaz, Arnel Papa, Ana Rocha, Jun Escario, Lulu Tan Gan, Vic Barba, Elena Bautista, Michi Calica, Emi Jorge, Victoria Marin, Avatar’s Butch Carungay, Kate Torralba and Patrice Ramos-Diaz.

The Gallery on the second floor is where events such as fashion shows and art exhibits can be held for a more intimate crowd. For bigger crowds, there is the Fashion Walk, an outdoor venue that’s a mini-park-cum-fountain by day.

On the third floor are the furniture and home accessory stores like Budji Layug and his Movement 8 friends, Aguas, Designs Ligna, Domicillo, Galeire Hans Brumann, Voyages Home and Osmundo.

And what’s a mall without a department store? Adora is not the usual department store in a mall, not unless you’re the type who would not be caught dead wearing last season’s clothes and accessories. It’s what is known as a boutique department store.

Adora is derived from the French word j’adore, which means “my love.” The store carries prestige labels such as Marni, Lanvin, Givenchy, Manolo Blahnik, Jil Sander and Etro and little known but still very fashionable brands.

The store, owned by the same group that opened Tyler, chandeliers, dressing rooms with lush, floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains and washrooms of glass-mirror walls. The sales people are dressed stylishly, too.

Source:

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_may9_2008