The ‘Fine Life’ starts in this cozy store in Kapitolyo

BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ

From aromatic liquid and hand soaps, beeswax wraps, abaca food covers, artist-crafted charger plates, reusable ‘paperless’ towels and more — this quaint store in Pasig City is every homebody’s dream destination.

It all started in 2020, when visual artist Martie Datu began looking for ways to express her creativity and skills while helping small communities in Bicol, Romblon, Iloilo and La Union. “When the pandemic started, I went into making soaps and candles for the house, until family and friends showed interest so we started selling. And during that time, I wanted to help because a lot of people were affected,” she shares.

From there, she set up an online store, which, in turn, grew quite popular. Less than a couple of years later, The Fine Life Market was born.

The space is a one-stop shop of utilitarian but beautiful and sustainable products for home and personal care, kitchen and Filipino home furnishings, as well as slow-living lifestyle products. Building and growing a slow-living community that actively participates in a push for a more sustainable future.

Here are some of our top picks:

**Beeswax wraps**: Colorful, cute and reusable, these beeswax wraps are perfect for storing food and perishable items. So goodbye cling wraps and hello beeswax.

**Healing balms by Paola Aseron**: From the scent to the texture, all the way down to their relaxing qualities, this confection of healing balms and creams are most definitely what you need to soothe the nerves after a long, stressful day. Whether for relaxing the muscles or rejuvenating your senses, these are pick-me-ups we’ll always look forward going home to.

**Reusable ‘Paperless’ Towels**: Made from natural fabrics, these reusable paperless towels are as practical as they are eco-friendly. Fine Life even sells cute paperless towel dispensers that look so good, they’re definitely a plus on our book.

**Liquid Castile soap and aromatherapy shower tablets**: Whether it’s the aromatic hand soap or the aromatherapy shower tablets, your everyday trip has never smelled this good. Make sure to put the tablets where the water can “activate” its oils for that relaxing scent you mostly only smell in spas.

**Liquid hand soaps**: And, of course, there’s the ever-essential, super important hand soap. These hand soaps are offered in lavender and citrus flavors at a refilling bar within the store. Just bring your container and you’re good to go!

Got time to spare? Take a seat at the in-store Katha Kape Cafe — a coffee shop where people can enjoy Philippine coffee. Katha Kape’s coffee is a mixture of high-quality Arabica and Robusta beans, from the provinces of Benguet and Batangas. Pair it with a pastry and enjoy a respite from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle.

Aside from embracing slow and “deliberate” consumerism, The Fine Life Market also advocates for the protection of minors from Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC). It does this in partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organization which aims to help local authorities protect 400 million people from everyday violence for 20 years.

The Fine Life Market is located at 3 Brixton St. Kapitolyo, Pasig 1603. Follow on IG: @thefinelifemarket, FB: The Fine Life Market, or order via website www.thefinelifemarket.com. For inquiries please email tflminquire@gmail.com.

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