Style and substance

By Celine Gabriel

The holidays are over but we all know that shopaholics like us never stop! If like me, you are looking for the next item to covet, there is nothing like starting the year right by kicking it off with what everyone wants a piece of? and making sure you get it before they do.

That particular item, dear readers, is what internationally acclaimed designer Rafe Totengco and the ubiquitous Team Manila have created?two limited-edition T-shirts as part of the Marie Claire Philippines ?Gifts with a Conscience? initiative. These fun and funky shirts will be sold in the US and the Philippines with the proceeds benefiting the Tapulanga Foundation, an organization that works to uplift the lives of children born in Rafe?s hometown province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines.

In honor of this project, the organization has created the Rafe Totengco and Marie Claire College Scholarship Grants to send two students to college. Both students will be sponsored for their entire four-year education based solely on the sales of the T-shirts.

Inspired by the season?s menswear trend, the T-shirts?one men?s and one women?s?feature stylized suit vest graphics and a Raf
scarf which make for a very cool fashion statement that you can wear for both work and play.

In the US, the T-shirts can be purchased for $35 through the Tapulanga Foundation Web site (http://www.tapulanga.org/rafe_tshirt.php). While in the Philippines, the T-shirts are available at the Rafe boutique in Manila as well as Team Manila stores nationwide.

Nothing makes me feel better than combining great style with a meaningful initiative and I?m sure you all feel the same way, too. We can only hope that Rafe and Team Manila will come up with more designs for the future. For now though, get in line and make sure you pick one up while supplies last!

Questions, comments, suggestions? Please do not hesitate to e-mail me at celine_gabriel_column@yahoo.com. Also, I?d like to invite you all to send me a photo of you wearing the limited-edition shirt. Photos submitted will be sent to Rafe Totengco?s team in New York.