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 The beautiful world of fashion and furniture greeted guests and select media as luxury Italian furniture manufacturer Moroso recently showcased a number of its distinctive pieces and presented a preview of acclaimed designer Rajo Laurel’s 2010 Fall Collection Sci-Fi Africa at its showroom in Ortigas Center.

Joseph and Stephanie Coyiuto-Tay, the couple who brought Moroso to the Philippines, opened the glamorous event, conveying their enthusiasm for the stylish partnership.

“We are truly happy and excited to be partnering with Rajo for this particular collection, which we feel complements Moroso’s pieces.” Moroso is one of the great brands of premium Italian furniture, founded in 1952 by Agostino and Diana Moroso. It has a wide roster of pieces and designers, regularly coming up with internationally acclaimed products. Moroso has a good mix of the more traditional and modern pieces, and the label has introduced various designers who boldly play with color and form. Moroso’s signature color pieces create small examples of art that one can actually live with and bring life to one’s home. Today, Moroso furnishes beautiful homes in cosmopolitan Asian cities such as Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Beijing.

In Manila, Moroso has been received just as warmly, to the delight of Joseph and Stephanie. “People tend to invest in furniture that is the centerpiece of their home and can be appreciated by guests, so they usually prioritize pieces for their living room and dining room,” says Stephanie of what local buyers are looking for. There has also being a growing awareness and appreciation of high-quality fine furniture. A visit to the Salone Internationale del Mobile, the biggest international furniture trade fair in Milan, Italy, proved a pivotal point for the couple whose careers revolved purely around business. Sold on the idea of bringing Moroso to these shores, they consulted at first with leading architects and interior designers about the potential of such furniture in Manila. 

Among the finest samples of Italian designer furniture on display were Ron Arad’s sculpturally inspired sofas Victoria and Albert and Do-lo-rez; Tord Boontje’s Shadowy, a play on twenties beach furniture forms and woven African patterns; and from world-renowned designer Patricia Urquiola, comfortably elegant Field sofas with down-filled cushions, and the exquisite Italian leather chaise lounge Bohemian. All throughout the evening, ‘curators’ were present to entertain guests and answer their queries about Moroso’s beautiful pieces. Guests with fully-furnished homes were still delighted at the unique accent pieces Moroso had to offer. Food catered by Cibo was delicious as always and tailored to match names of iconic Moroso pieces.

The highlight of the event was a fashion show featuring Rajo’s new collection, the philosophy of which can be surmised in one word — paradox. According to the designer, “I wanted to create a collection that would combine opposite forces, yet result in something that is both cohesive and sublime.” The show was followed by the presentation of Rajo’s muses for the collection—Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Mandy dela Rama-Santos, Clavel Bendana, Elisa Lim, Divine Lee, Mia Borromeo, Salome Uy and Linabelle Villarica.

Joseph, all smiles from the event’s success, mentions, “We have a lot more in store for our buyers and patrons in the next few months. We are soon bringing in more classical pieces to offer more choices for those whose tastes tend towards the more conservative. But even the most conservative piece of Moroso will have a flair and personality to it.”

The Moroso showroom is located at Ground floor, AIC Burgundy-Empire Tower, ADB Avenue corner Garnet Road, Ortigas Center. Tel: 4706250, 4701089

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