FINO Leatherware, is highly applauded, used and promoted by accomplished women like Dyan Castillejo, Serla Russel, Margie Moran-Floirendo, Candice Adea, Menchu Lauchengco, Lia Bernardo, Liza Ilarde, TC Alvarez, Rachelle Gerodias, and Mikka Padua.
Although a lot of classy women is into FINO, it actually began with a line for men way back in 1992. Last week to honor its roots, FINO launched another meaningful collection: HIStory, the Men’s Line of FINO Leatherware at Dr. Wine.
Meet History Ambassadors (and their History bags) who collaborated with FINO Leatherware to come up with elegent and functional leather bags for men, namely, Elbert Cuenca (seasoned restaurateur), Bryan MCCleland, Carlo Ople (VP of Digital Strategy and Disruptive Business for PLDT), Chef Robby Gocco, Monchet Olives, Eric Paras (Interior Designer) and Raul Ona.
ELBERT CUENCA
As a child, there were three things Elbert Cuenca loved: steak, cars, and bikes. He has since added a fourth: technology (because there were no computers back then). As an Apple “evangelist,” friends (and even strangers) often run to him when they have problems with their iPhones and Macs. This seasoned restaurateur considers himself an entertainer, with his focus directed on bringing the ultimate gastronomic experience to the discerning customer. He now has six restaurants including the acclaimed Elbert’s Steak Room, now on its 10th year and its spin-off, Elbert’s Sandwiches under his belt. Visit any one of his restaurants, and you’ll immediately understand where all his hard work goes to. His interest in good service and good food dates back to the 70s when his family was running a restaurant business.
Possessing a love for car racing and a talent for biking, it is fitting to say that despite switching gears to a career in IT and marketing, the trail still brought him back to the restaurant business. He is inspired by his customers, having the opportunity to make a difference in their lives—big or small. Elbert lives a balanced lifestyle: His work at the restaurant allows him to entertain customers, ensuring them of quality food, great service, and an unforgettable experience.
Biking keeps him healthy and fit. When he wants to destress and relax, he travels with his wife to favorite destinations, as well as to new ones here and abroad. With such a busy schedule, Elbert always takes a bag with him that fits everything he needs. With this in mind, he collaborated with FINO History Leatherware to come up with a zip-up tote that he thinks men like him will find functional and practical, and can easily fit into their lifestyle. The FINO bag Elbert co-created is reminiscent of a bespoke vintage race car bag sporting a number in front, reflective of his love for racing, which has taken center stage in this collaboration. The distressed brown and gray leather definitely lives up to that retro feel. Elbert shares, “I wanted to be able to incorporate an international racer design with a stripe and a number.” Like him, the all-leather piece wears many hats, used while he’s biking, traveling, and working. Elbert adds, “I like leather because it’s very sensual. It appeals to the human senses—you can see it, you can smell it, and you can feel it. It covers almost all the senses. The tactile feel even produces a sort of sound—and this is almost the same things I do in the restaurant business. They are similar experiences.” He describes the piece as a messenger-tote bag, designed so that it doesn’t swing while biking. The compartmentalized bag was designed to be home to his life’s essentials and needs. “I designed the bag to have several compartments, so that everything has a place: tech stuff like my laptop, gadgets, chargers, and cables; personal items like my glasses, grooming products, and checkbook; and things for work like folders,” says Elbert. “I also made sure to include an outside pocket, which is useful when you travel— that’s where your passport and boarding pass go. Plus a trolley sleeve, which you can easily slide over your hand carry luggage.” The double straps, which have racing stripes, are short enough to hold in your hand and long enough to wear on the shoulders. It also has a detachable strap, whose length can be adjusted, so that the bag can be worn as a cross-body or as a bike bag on your back. As the bag for the multi-hyphenate man, he tells other men who believe it is not necessary to carry a bag or who think carrying a bag is not a manly thing to do, “I now have a bag that carries everything I need and you will discover that with my bag, you do need one too.”
MONCHET OLIVES
“This isn’t your grandmother’s fan,” Monchet explains when asked how he made a fan relevant to the
modern age. “I just added different pieces to a regular fan to update it.” Monchet has kept the art of fan making alive for the last 60 years through their family business. “For the longest time, I’ve been looking for somebody to work with to create a fan bag.” His dream bag is brought to life with FINO, designed to allow you to store your fan, and many other essentials, in the most stylish way. The outcome was a smooth, leather, two-tone, compartmentalized man clutch with a fan pocket on the outside, perfect for times when one needs to bring a fan and to use a small clutch also. The variant he uses is red and black, his signature colors. The piece also features a small card case as well as pen case, smartly conceptualized to be compact and flexible.
The genius of Monchet is apparent throughout his career in ABS-CBN which began in the 80s when he created and brought to life concepts that made life for the Filipino better. Examples are the TFC Channel, which brings the Philippines to millions of OFWs all over the world and the Pasig river clean-up project, Kapit Bisig Para sa Pasig. Part of the campaign was a fun run that bagged the title of “The Biggest Run” in the Guinness Book of World Records. His advice to a young fresh graduate? “Go to work and learn how difficult it is to make a living. Be around people who have less than you—that covet the job. So History you will understand the concept of struggle. Because if you do not understand the concept of struggle, you will not understand the creative process that goes with it. You cannot write a good book if you did not have any significant human experience.”
ROBBY GOCO
With the dining scene constantly evolving and growing at lightning speed, getting a share of the market can be a challenge. Chef Robby Gocco did this and a whole lot more, enriching the lives of not only his customers but also his employees. He shares how some of his employees have sent their kids to college, leading to good employment afterwards. “I want them to aspire, to work hard.” the selfless employer says. He now has several restaurants under his name including CYMA, Green Pastures, and SOUV! “You have to be constantly innovating, constantly challenging your recipes,” he explains. A firm believer in the saying “Good food is a right, not a privilege” he shares that
he has very high standards when it comes to his restaurants.
When asked about his medium sized backpack-sling, leather-nylon, FINO bag, he says, “It’s rugged, not at all formal.” The easy-to-wear fusion back sling was a result of experiences from both work and leisure, championing creativity, convenience and innovation. Aside from his business related activities that include meetings, going to the market, running a kitchen, he also needed a bag that he could use for traveling. You’ll immediately see his keys attached in front, which shows how mobile he is. The bag is made up of several secured compartments, which is fitting for his multifaceted lifestyle as well.
BRYAN MCCLELAND
He is the man behind bringing the concept of a bamboo bike “Bambikes” to the Philippines, and turning it into a sustainable business. If you happen to be in Intramuros and see a set of people circling the walled city in Bambikes you would have seen part of the realized vision of Bryan. Behind Bambike are the Bambuilders from Gawad Kalinga, an organization dedicated to providing sustainable livelihood for some of the less fortunate communities in the Philippines. His company, Bamb Ecological Technology has so much promise for the future.
Take a look at his leather messenger bag, and you’ll immediately see how fitting it is for someone as active and as outdoorsy as Bryan is. Constantly biking from one commitment to another, he needed a bag that was durable, compartmentalized, and flexible. This rectangular, tough but classy leather and canvas bag has enough compartments to carry items like a water bottle and other work essentials, while still having room for a cellular phone, a laptop, a wallet, and other work essentials. Perfect for the adventurous commuter. Bryan was very much involved in the design, creating a bag that is personalized and suited to his own lifestyle. The perfect companion for the active gentleman, you can just sling it on and go. He ensured that he can easily and conveniently slip all of his daily essentials into the bag as he treks through History traffic, while protecting his valuables and belongings as he braves the pollution and dust he encounters during his city rides to get to his meetings. Just like his Bambikes, Bryan’s unique FINO piece is ruggedly stylish and functional, durable and versatile. We will excitedly wait and see what happens next for this driven force of nature. “It’s an amazing feeling
you get when you see how something you did, or how time you spent working on a project, has drastically changed someone’s life,” he shares.
ERIC PARAS
Enter The Henry Hotel in Pasay and you’ll immediately be transported to another world—a sophisticated, fun, and enticing one. This world was designed by interior designer Eric Paras. Finding the perfect harmony, he took both old-world and modern elements and fused them to create a welcoming, inspiring, and comfortable sanctuary. Go into A11, his store-showroom for his interior and feature designs, and you’ll get a better grasp of what kind of creator he is—designing spaces and furniture that are not only pleasing to the senses, but also purposeful for the dweller.
Being all about form and function, the bag he designed with FINO is just that. As simple as it appears, a lot of thought was put into developing it. It’s a utilitarian, rectangular, easy-to-match tote containing a detachable clutch where a man can choose to put his essentials. It was designed in a size perfect for carrying folders and other documents needed by an artist or creative spirit. Being composed of mostly nylon makes it very light despite its generous proportions.
RAUL ONA
From the top of a motorbike to the back of a camera, this man is king. As a director, he has been awarded for a number of his works including Best Director (Ad Congress) for PLDT, Monde Nissin, Procter and Gamble, and Coca-Cola. Being a seasoned professional, he has seen the change in the media landscape. When asked how one stays relevant in the fast-paced, digital world of today? “Change is the only constant,” he explains. “At the end of the day, we are people with emotions and values. New forms and tools of reaching out to people will always come and go; it’s how you tickle or touch their heartstrings that poses a challenge and makes this field of advertising fun and unpredictable.” Besides being a top advertising director, Raul is an elite motorcycle rider who bikes across the globe. In his most recent adventure, he served as road captain of the first Filipino motorcycle team to ride up the most dangerous road and highest motorable peak in the world at more than 8,000 feet, the Himalayas.
Similar to his personal style, the FINO bag he co-designed is understated but functional and comfortable to wear. Featuring multiple compartments, the curved leather man sling, which also doubles as a backpack, is small and easy to carry, yet still big enough to carry one’s needs. The front of the bag features zippers on each side as well as scraps for closure, perfect for someone who is constantly on the move.
CARLO OPLE
At his young age, Carlo is riding high in the digital landscape of the Philippines. He is now VP of Digital Strategy and Disruptive Business for PLDT. “The modern consumer is more discerning because they are empowered with digital to make better choices,” he shares. “The consumer is changing from the way they buy, communicate, and consume media, at a rapid pace. The challenge for marketers is to be able to keep up because when they don’t, they are open to disruption.” He also founded Unbox.ph, which has one of the highest traffic for technology lifestyle sites in the Philippines.
His attention to detail and drive towards perfection is seen in bag he designed with FINO. “I wanted a bag that would serve the needs of the modern-day executive. The number of gear that a professional needs has changed over the years. There’s the laptop, power bank, cables, smartphones, tablet, cameras, etc. The bag I envisioned was built to carry those in a purposeful and stylish way.” The result is a hybrid leather-canvas messenger bag, with a removable organizer for his gadgets. It also has a card and pen holder at the front interior of the bag. This versatile bag can be used for both formal and casual occasions. Carlo shares, “I’m happy that the collaboration led to a bag that I would love to use everyday.” During this collaborative journey, each man has given FINO an inside look into the workings of their minds. The result is a collection featuring intelligently designed pieces that are functional and yet creative and aesthetic, fulfilling current and realistic needs and demands of today’s fast, technology driven lifestyle. Through relevant and well thought out designs, each FINO piece is meticulously produced for the established, discerning Filipino. HIStory, FINO’s line for men is available at select FINO stores. Like and follow FINO on Facebook and Instagram (@finoleatherware).
FINO’s History:
FINO Leatherware, applauded for their soulful collections like FINO NOW and the Vinta Collection actually began with a line for men way back in 1992. Known then as the Business Line, the collection featured the original envelope folios, leather jotters, agendas and briefcases—which as fate would have it, is what brought the company to leather and to what we know today as FINO Leatherware.
The previous collection, FINO NOW, featured collaborations with women who have made their mark—. Through these collaborations, the FINO NOW campaign celebrated the Filipina—her accomplishments, failures, journeys, destinations, while encouraging and supporting her to keep dreaming, pursuing and finally actualizing her passions and aspirations—now.
FINO branches:
Alabang Town Center,Power Plant Mall , Eastwood Mall, SM Mall of Asia,
The Podium, Robinson’s Place Manila, Trinoma, Robinson’s
Magnolia, Shangri-La Mall and Glorietta 3
