Tiffany hosts first event of the year | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Mario Katigbak (center)with Rustan’s VP for Store Planning and Expansion Michael Huang and Stephanie Chong
Mario Katigbak (center)with Rustan’s VP for Store Planning and Expansion Michael Huang and Stephanie Chong

 

Mario Katigbak is known for building good relationships, whether with friends or clients. His graciousness and fine taste foster loyalty—where he goes, clients follow.

 

In his first event for Tiffany & Co. at Rustan’s Makati last Saturday, even with little fanfare, friends turned out to support Katigbak as the brand’s new country manager—and a good number of them broke out the plastic, we learned. There were also some walk-in clients, couples shopping for engagement rings and wedding bands.

 

The pre-Valentine event was not the relaunch of Tiffany here—not yet. That will be sometime in June, when it unveils its flagship boutique in Greenbelt 4, Makati. (Tiffany will keep its stores at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Plaza, Katigbak said.)

 

Tiffany will beef up its jewelry offerings here with mid- to high jewelry pieces, said Katigbak. In high jewelry, he has a long, successful history of selling to the country’s elite. (He’s also country manager of Hermès.)

 

At the Rustan’s event, models wore pieces from the HardWear collection, the edgy line headlined by Lady Gaga in the campaign, and the daintier Tiffany Paper Flowers collection, represented by young actress Elle Fanning.

 

Kathy and Michael Huang

 

Tiffany as a brand has been enjoying a sort of renaissance in recent seasons. From the classic Audrey Hepburn, it has made attempts at a more cutting-edge and bolder image, notably when it tapped Lady Gaga to be the face of HardWear, a collection inspired by the edgier side of New York.

 

While it’s not turning its back on traditional customers, Tiffany has said that it also wants to attract women with Lady Gaga’s brand of fierce feminism and rebellious streak.

 

Speaking about Tiffany Blue Book 2018 collection, the brand’s high jewelry collection, chief artistic officer Reed Krakoff told US Town & Country: “These are jewels with a heartbeat, meant to be worn and lived with. It’s a new day for high jewelry. People should make it their own. People want to wear things how they want to wear them.”

 

Katigbak with (from left) Tina Jacinto, Nympha Valencia and Mellie Ablaza

 

Connie Haw and Agile Zamora

 

Em Flores, Anya Cajucom, Lynden Catapang, Angelica Gana and Jennifer Robles—PHOTOS BY RICHARD REYES

 

Babette Benoit and Irene Francisco

 

Margie Floirendo and Carol Garcia

 

Tiffany Paper Flowers diamond cluster pendant in platinum
Tiffany Paper Flowers diamond cluster earrings in platinum
Tiffany Paper Flowers diamond cluster earrings in platinum
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

MOST VIEWED STORIES