I came for the food, but found a raincoat I would actually wear on the street. I dare say it was fate.
I went to Gayuma ni Maria to eat my favorite pasta—Mi Amore. Its interiors were meant to get to the romantic side of its diners. But going to the bathroom could be a test of bravery because the restaurant is in an old house with creaking wooden floors.
Going to the bathroom almost always means an isolated trip to the second floor. On my previous trips, I would do my business in a hurry to rejoin my friend in the dining area. But this one night, I saw a sign on a mannequin at the top of the stairs that said “Raincoats for sale.”
I stopped and turned back and saw the room from whence I came in a different light. I saw the low tables and big pillows, I saw the big closet filled with Filipiniana dresses, but most of all, I saw the rack of raincoats from Una Creations.
It was a joy going through the collection. I easily fell in love with the red, single-breasted coat that ended above the knees. It looked like a trench coat. I easily channeled Kate Middleton while wearing that. Maricar Aguila, the designer of Una, said that she comes up with new designs every month.
Unique design
“I think it’s safe to say that there are only two of a kind for each design,” she says. “Raincoats should not be boring.”
She has conservative designs but it was more fun to go through the quirky ones. She has polka dots, checkered, and even animal prints on gold metallic fabric. All the coats are made of microfiber that repels water.
Each coat is cut differently, so even those with the same print will appear different when worn. Some have removable hoods while others have ruffles. Others are reversible while still others stay classic, in one color. They all come with a matching bag for storage. Price range for each coat is P600-P1,500. Maricar says that they custom-make coats to complement a customer’s measurements.
I already bought two coats. I only have to find the perfect boots and I’m ready to face the wet, stormy months!
Gayuma ni Maria is at 123 V. Luna Extension (Maginhawa St.), Sikatuna Village, Quezon City.
