Cora Manimbo opens atelier
Ten years ago, when Cora Manimbo started
designing clothes for her friends upon their request, little did
she know that she would eventually be involved in the fashion
industry. What began as a leisurely preoccupation turned into a
full-time endeavor. Recently, she opened her House of Fashion in
Marikina.
Manimbo concentrates on Filipiniana designs and uses
indigenous materials for her creations. Her creations use a lot of hand
embroidery. For this, she taps embroiderers from Bulacan, Batangas and Quezon.
Whenever the need arises, hand-painting are outsourced to women artists from
Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Marikina City from where she hails. Beadwork is
done by livelihood workers from Taguig, Pateros, San Juan, Quezon City and
Bulacan.
In fashion shows staged in the United States, her creations
earned praise and recognition. Flowing skirts that are fully embroidered,
Filipiniana attire made from intricately-designed piña cloth and other
indigenous materials, and clothes hand-painted meticulously have been her
trademarks.
Cora Manimbo’s clientele includes members of the diplomatic circle,
government officials, members of Congress and business organizations. She has
also made clothes for royalty from Mindanao and the Middle East. She also has
her share of international clients from neighboring Asian countries, America and
Europe.
