After turning her passion into a thriving business, this public relations maven is set to add color to Yuletide feasts with her bone china, ceramic tableware, plates and goblets — not to mention her bright ideas for avoiding cabin fever through the joys of table setting.
By JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
Plants, pets, paintings. These are but some of the few things that people started to enjoy as the world hopped from one lockdown to the other, in the last two years. For Millet Liberato-Simeon though, founder and managing director of M360 PR + Activations Agency, her escape from reality came in another form: Plates.
It all started when Millet observed an uptick in food and homeware sellers in 2020, as her enterprising friends on Instagram and Facebook started to explore new ways to make an extra buck or two. She also saw how many of them spent more time preparing their meals at home, what with the limited dining options brought about by prevailing restrictions.
Millet Liberato-Simeon of M Maison Manila
“If we’re going to stay at home, we might as well make our home look good,” thought Millet then, who would often shop at posh department stores and malls for Royal Albert teacups, special-occasion plates, napkins, pillowcases and other items that she used to either send as gifts to her friends, or to spruce up her home. Millet and her husband would also make stops at known home stores whenever they visited Japan and Hong Kong.
But with the lockdowns in place, Millet realized that she couldn’t go to the mall to get her tablescape items, much more travel the world to get her fix of china and ceramics. That was when this certified “Platita” (a portmanteau of the words ‘plate’ and ‘tita’) decided to become a professional “Platita,” so to speak.
“That’s it! I’m starting my own plate business!” she told herself. And so, M Maison Manila was born on Sept. 1, 2020.
Combining her passion for plates and travel, Millet named each plate after a city or country that its design reminded her of. “I miss traveling, and I know many of my customers, do, too. We were supposed to tour the US and Europe last year. But for now, we’ll all have to make do with Seoul plates, the Moroccan collection, Indian collection and even with the Christmas collection, which was named after the best Christmas markets in Europe,” she says with a chuckle.
A year into it, Millet’s clientele and offerings continue to grow. Orders now average around 50 plates per week, since people are starting to prepare for their weekend family gatherings and Christmas tablescapes. “I also have a lot of loyal customers who ask me for plate designs that would best fit their tablescape theme, like for the upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations. One client even asked for ideas on a blue-themed celebration for their son’s graduation in Ateneo,” she adds.
M Maison Manila also now carries a complete set of its bestsellers, which include a soup bowl, cup and saucer, on top of the original salad and dinner plates. “I also support local businesses such as (suppliers of ) native placemats named ‘Bicol,’ which are made of bangkuan grass from Albay,” she says.
Believing that creating a tablescape is a journey in its own right, Millet unboxes her latest collection of plates and takes PeopleAsia around the world with her design ideas for the holidays:
Marseille in blue
Using M Maison Manila’s “Marseille’’ plates as her focal point, Millet transforms blue into an opulent choice for this table setting. Marseille’s image as a beautiful yet somewhat stern port city is captured in this set of intricate navy and gold ceramic plates and bone china. Adding a bit of contrast to the somewhat masculine plates are white miniature Christmas trees and reindeer, as well as goblets with touches of gold on them. Completing the look are tall, blue candles mounted on silver candleholders. A muted choice that exudes glamour and sophistication, this table setting is ideal for those intimate, romantic dinners — without being too pink and sweet and overly saccharine.
Verdant Vienna
The touches of green on this “Vienna” plate set immediately transport you and your guests to the imperial city, where statues, rooftops and domes also exude that iconic teal color. With a light green tablecloth as its backdrop, this tablescape comes to life with the addition of pine leaves and acorn. Gold accents and warm white fairy lights are also incorporated into the concept to transform what would otherwise have been a rustic look, into a resplendent table setting befitting the dramatic “City of Music.”
Classics and Copenhagen
Traditional reds and greens are ideal for those who root their aspirations in nostalgia. These Christmas colors are timeless, charming and warm, especially when infused with checked patterns that evoke a cozy, provincial feel. To fully capture that Western holiday imagery, Millet uses garlands, red candles and mistletoe, and pairs them with shiny gold candleholders and trees. Serving as an anchor and focal point to this otherwise traditional look are the “Copenhagen” plates, whose swirling, deep green patterns are reminiscent of the Northern lights, which can be seen in some parts of Denmark on cold winter nights.
London rouge
Reminiscent of the British capital’s red telephone boxes and buses, among other things, these “London” ceramics and china make the ideal focal point for a royal feast. Complementing these red and white plates are glowing wire mesh tabletop Christmas trees, red candles, pine needles and evergreen berries. Paired with golden cutlery, this is definitely one table setting fit for a queen.
Prague-matic beauty
Hailed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Prague is transported to your table in this floral collection of ceramics and bone china. Here, Millet captures the city’s beautiful Christmas markets and snow-blanketed rooftops with whites, beiges and muted tones. To add a touch of warmth and softness to your “White Christmas in Prague” table setting, add wreaths and other dried flowers into the mix. You may also want to steer clear of glitters and all those bells and whistles, so as not to compete with the beauty of your colorful plates.
