She is so maarte.
***For my international readers:
arte – noun. art
maarte – adjective. artistic (Filipino definition is somewhat negative, may even be perceived as annoyingly demanding on so many things and levels, and in extremely impractical ways.)
kaartehan – noun. Creativity or artistry (Filipino definition may be connoted as a quality of annoyingly demanding on so many things and levels, and in extremely impractical ways.)
Growing up, this sentence is so common it may be the most-spoken sentence in school, especially for young girls. Being a transferee twice, my presence has somewhat alerted the school population that they have someone new to see, maybe admire, spy on, talk about, taunt, or to that person’s misfortune, a subject for scrutiny and bullying. And lucky for me, I happen to experience all.
It was such a whirlwind; I actually tried to force this kaartehan out into oblivion. Sometimes, I think there’s something wrong with me, that I have to be like everybody else, so that more people will like me. But after everything, I realized we don’t have to be the person the society expects us to be. We never stand out that way, and it will be difficult for us to be happy. So instead of quieting it down, I cultivated it more. I tried blogging and public speaking, and this really helped me maximize my creative potential. I tried to be more graphic with my words and animated with my presentations, and it was such a surprise how much appreciation I gained. I soon recognized, that my being maarte gave me a lot of opportunities, and amazing people to share it with. Being one, allowed me to be noticed more, to be perceived as unique and a burst of sunshine in an utmost dreary day. That this quality was actually not a negative thing, because creativity gives birth to wonders that will change the world.
And now, I’m taking this creativity up a notch by turning it into a tangible fashion piece – shoes! I can go on, and on, about how shoes are the greatest fashion invention, but I’d save it for another post.
For my first high heel design, I was so inspired when I got to check out these materials. The swatches are so stunning, that the moment I saw the right-most swatch I imagined it already shaping a shoe in my foot. The prints are so whimsical, fashionable and edgy. I know it’s going to be such a scene stealer to anyone who will wear it. So see how it turned out!
I’m not going to convince you how lovely it is, because it actually is! Since gradient colors are so popular right now, I tried being a little playful with the straps, and opted two colors. They have the same texture too. I tried to keep it looking put-together with the black vertical strap, as to complete the whole look. This is just the prototype though, the finished products are on their way, and will be available either on the 2nd or 3rd week of March. I can’t wait to see them come to life!
My vision for Versaheel is for our shoes to not just complement or make the outfit, they are THE outfit. I hope you like this new stint I’m venturing in, because I have never felt more energized about something I am really passionate about. Shoe-speaking, I own about a fair number of pairs, you can say I am a shoe addict, but there’s something more satisfying in creating and sharing this love affair to fellow shoe-o-holics.
I’ve always admired how artists get to immortalize things. Whatever their craft is, creatives would always find a way to express their gift. This is my gift to you. Welcome to Versaheel.
Find us clacking our heels in Facebook and Instagram. It’s going to be a shoe-stopper I’m telling you.
**, Via
encyclopevia.wordpress.com 