1335/MABINI, as it was originally conceived, prides itself as a second home for contemporary local artists, both established and up-and-coming names. The launch of its lifestyle arm, SHOP/1335, is envisioned as an extension of this noble pursuit.
Rather than be consumed by the doom and gloom brought about by the pandemic, Marisa Gutierrez, owner and creative director of 1335/MABINI art gallery, held her head high and plodded on. In fact, she has even bucked the tide by expanding her business by recently adding a lifestyle arm dubbed SHOP/1335, a veritable jewel box of curated, often one-of-kind-pieces, antiques and objets d’ art for the home.
“I took over 1335/Mabini a little over a year ago hoping that the pandemic was on its way out,” she shares. “Just when we were gearing up, along came a new lockdown and new variant. More than one variant, in fact. I needed to focus on something, apart from the art gallery, to buoy me up and make me happy. It took me almost a year to hit upon the idea of branching out by adding a shop filled with stuff I really like.”
1335/MABINI, as it was originally conceived, prides itself as a second home to contemporary artists, both established and up-and-coming names in the thriving local art scene. Its ultimate goal is to represent the ingenuity of both local and foreign artists, who explore themes and narratives relevant to the present time. The launch of SHOP/1335 serves as an extension of this noble pursuit.
“Our lifestyle space aims to elevate the traditional retail format by creating an immersive lifestyle experience, showcasing products in a realistic and livable, but also surprising setting. SHOP/1335 will feature a curated range of products that visitors can shop both in-store and online, including exclusive furnishings and one-of-a-kind pieces from Portugal, France, Italy and the Philippines,” says Marisa, whose main inspiration behind the new venture was her frequent travels with her mother, pre-pandemic.
“During our travels both here and abroad, my mother and I loved to explore and buy all sorts of stuff for the home,” says Marisa, a native of Bacolod. “Even if they didn’t seem to fit our home’s existing decor and theme, which is primarily vintage Filipiniana, my mother would always find a way of making new stuff we bought work.”
Since her Bacolod-based mother would never dream of parting away with a single piece she and Marisa acquired over the years, none of the items featured at SHOP/1335 came from the Gutierrez home. Everything featured on the shop floor are on consignment. “But the inspiration is there,” Marisa explains. “It has an east-meets-west flavor filled with stuff from all over—stuff that I myself and a good friend personally chose.”
With a mission to help customers live their personal style, she further adds, “We have also partnered with interior decorator Ram Lopez-Vito Bucoy of Casa Buddha to transform the space into a jewel box with every corner filled top to bottom with pieces ready to be carried home.”
Casual shoppers, meanwhile, will find an assortment of vintage and new furniture pieces, lighting, and décor from brands such as Solano, Travelfunds by Siriusdan, Palayan Lamps, Rue Angelique, VIDRO, NOOD and Melissa Yeung-Yap, to name a few.
“That’s our ultimate strategy moving forward—that we’ll always curate the store,” Gutierrez says. “That’s the fun part.”
SHOP/1335 is located at Karrivin Plaza, Chino Roces Avenue Ext., Makati City.
