Cora Jacob goes back to Europe

Manila Standard Today
April 13, 2009

She was the reigning Filipino bag designer in the ’70s and ’80s, introducing Filipino craftsmanship to exclusive fashion houses like Dior, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. Her designs also grace the shelves of New York’s Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s as well as other chic boutiques in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Lawyer-turned bag designer Cora Jacob was at the zenith of her achievements when stress and diabetes forced her to take an indefinite hiatus.

Recently, Jacob was invited by no less than the director and curator of the world’s biggest museum of bags. Made of indigenous Philippine materials, Jacob’s bags stand alongside those dating from the late 16th century to present day at the Tussenmuseum Hendrikje or Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Back to Amsterdam

“The Dutch were one of my first customers way back 1978,” said Cora during the launch of her exhibit. “So I started again here [but] more of an artist, just to show my art.”

Dubbed as Woven Chic Spring-Summer Collection 2009, the show featured eight different lines of bags made of shells, crystal beads, sequins, pearls and other materials woven onto buntal fabric.

Sigrid Ivo, daughter of museum founder Hendrikje Ivo, was impressed by the colorful collection inspired by tropical themes like the sea, lush forests, tropical fruits and the sun.

“Even in Netherlands, there are craftsmanship that are already lost that is why I am very happy to see old craftsmanship in modern designs. The materials are very elegant and unusual that we don’t even know here in Europe that is why they are very interesting.” adds Sigrid.

The collection impressed even Madame Martine Louise Amélie van Loon née Labouchere, the Mistress of the Robes to Queen Beatrix (closest confidante of the queen), who graced the ribbon cutting.

Woven Chic, Cora Jacob Summer-Spring Collection 2009, will be displayed at the Museum of Bags and Purses until May 3. Meanwhile, Cora also flew to Paris, France to conduct a similar exhibition.