A group of women entrepreneurs is behind Trove—a series of pop-up bazaars of feel-good, look-good brands. It’s also a new brand introduced by Trish Panlilio, known for her stationery, flower arrangements, nawwTy’s Kitchen catering service, Gourmand Market, and Mulberry Door, a restaurant of rich, comfort food.

These brands complement the Slow Movement, a trend which advocates a downshift in life’s pace and emphasizes quality and sustainability.

Trove will debut on Nov. 7 at Mulberry Door, featuring brands of Panlilio’s close friends.

“Having our own businesses, we wanted to do something together,” says Ria Prieto, who has ventured into a clothing and printed paper line.

Hindy Weber-Tantoco, a fashion designer, has become a resource person for holistic nutrition, organic farming and the environment. She developed Holy Carabao, a go-to brand for organic food cultivated in Laguna, as well as homemade sauces, dips and spreads. For Trove, its offerings will include wild honey from Palawan, biodynamic eggs, red rice from South Cotabato, and adlai from Bukidnon and other farms.

Hindy and her business partner, entrepreneur and biologist Melanie Go, are helping Holy Carabao evolve as a lifestyle brand. For Trove it will introduce home and garden products like enamel ware, wooden forks and spoons, cow and rooster bells, ceramic and glassware customized by various exporters.

Aryanna and Jenni Epperson create a simple, nature-based skincare brand that delivers results.

Bahay Kubo Kit

The new garden line not only offers tools, but also a Bahay Kubo Kit, which makes a great present for children, based on the popular folk song.

Hindy says that the crux of Holy Carabao is educating children on the origins of Filipino food, games and farm animals.

Jenni Epperson, freed from the pressures of a demanding career in advertising and styling, has created a skincare brand that echoes that downshift.

She and her daughter, MTV VJ and blogger Aryanna, pooled their savings to create Always Sunday (ShopAlwaysSunday.com), which consists of a basic program of cleansing, toning and moisturizing using all-natural ingredients.

“These are products that I wanted to use on myself,” Jenni says.

One of the fast-moving products is the Charcoal Detox mask, which contains clay from volcanic ash and kaolin clay to remove impurities and moisturize the skin. Coco Vanilla face mist freshens up the skin, while Rose Quartz Elixir should be applied after spritzing the face.

Meanwhile, Aryanna wanted the product to appeal to her age group without being literally “millennial” or “iGen” about it. She designed the packaging in white and color-blocked pastels to suggest freshness and modernity.

Body scrubs have been the top seller for the month-old brand. Aryanna swears by the Pink Coco Body Scrub with Himalayan rock salt that sloughs off dead skin and makes skin baby smooth. Sans preservatives, the products last for six months and range from P299 to P599.

Banker-turned-entrepreneur Macky Fäh shifted to jewelry when she joined her in-laws’ eponymous fine jewelry business in Switzerland. Resettling in the Philippines, she continued with her designs for Bijoux Fäh, such as her jade and rose quartz beaded necklaces with gold tassels.

Fäh developed Fäe scented beeswax candles and natural soaps. Unlike soy candles which are processed, beeswax comes from the beehive. It cleans the air as it releases negative ions.

To create unique scents, Fäh combines several essences such as almond, vanilla and pomegranate. Her soaps contain no skin-drying hardeners, but use coconut oil, which retains the moisture in the skin.

Ria Prieto designs disposable patterned paper placemats that make tidying up easy.

Fashion and placemats

Prieto transcends her roles as Inquirer Red magazine editor and Inquirer Lifestyle columnist and blogger with her fashion line and placemats.

She has been drawing followers to her brand/website riarecommends.com and Facebook and Instagram accounts. Ria Recommends talks about a range of subjects, from Swiss watches and local brand Soleil et Lune to pop culture, such as a foolproof playlist from DJ Karlo V.

Prieto started with Aranae, staple pieces designed by her favorite designers such as Gian Romano, Ivarluski Aseron, Joey Samson and Dennis Lustico.

Prieto has also found new meaning in printed paper, quite literally. She designs patterned paper placemats and wrapping paper in bold patterns. “The designs aren’t sweet,” she says. “I like them edgy.”

Panlilio—touted by Asia Tatler as one of the region’s stylish women—has shown that she’s not just the leggy mom in shorts. Her home has developed a reputation for hospitality and rich comfort food.

NawwTy’s Kitchen offers slow-cooked meals and takes the stress out of entertaining. Think grissini wrapped in pancetta and arugula, artichoke and spinach dips, or home-made, bacon-flavored ice cream.

Panlilio organized The Gourmand Market, a weekend affair that features home-cooked meals. This led to Mulberry Door restaurant. The foolproof specials: crab fat paella, lasagne al forno, slow-baked ribs and the ethereal flan.

Trove will introduce canteen-service gourmet food, and ready to go. Panlilio will also be selling nawwTy’s Kitchen sauces and dips.–CONTRIBUTED