ICYDK, Marian Rivera has a flower shop called Flora Vida. And starting today, it now has its own homeware line. Named Flora Vida Home, the line features locally-made lamps, memo boards, and nursery decor made with European-sourced fabrics.
During our interview with the actress, Rivera shared with us about her love of flowers, explaining that it started out as a child. “Bata pa ako…nakatatak na sa isip ko itong mga flowers na ‘to.” In fact, just looking at a flower can calm her down and ease her nerves. It makes the timing of the home line especially apt—she wanted to share a little bit of that calmness to others. “Ang daming nangyayari, may pandemya, and daming negativity, so this time gusto komeron kang trangkilo pag nasa loob ka ng bahay,” she said.
However, she’s actually been working on the line for three years now. After looking through the local market, she wanted to create a line that was both hers and inspired by her trips abroad, with designs you couldn’t find anywhere else. She was quick to note though that this doesn’t mean she doesn’t patron local furniture. “Pero hindi ko sinasabing ayaw ko yung mga nandito sa atin, ah. Hindi ko sinasabing wala akong gusto. Siguro may hinahanap lang ako particularly dun sa tela, hinahanap ko through design na gusto ko na ganito.”
She was very hand-on in the making of the furniture, teaching herself how to design and look through references. “Sariling sikap,” she called it.
Even though her fabric is sourced elsewhere, she made sure that the production was local. “For me, naging special siya kasi yung mga fabric is from Europe, tapos yung mga gumawa at yung mga wood na ginamit is gawang Pinoy,” she said. The wood used were salvaged trees from Southroad Bay and Paete in Laguna.
The florals for the current line are all roses, but Rivera playfully shares that it doesn’t mean she’s playing favorites. “I can’t choose a favorite,” she said. “I love all flowers.”
Photos courtesy of Flora Vida
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