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| DITU: The Role of Star Wars in this Pinay’s Growing Fashion Empire |
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Upon her graduation, Layla gained invaluable experience working in New York alongside Zac Posen on his ready-to-wear collection, then in China with international luxury brand Ports1961.
“The part that prepared me to face the real world was the pace, the workload, mixed with the life experiences that taught me to be resourceful. Traveling to another country, finding an apartment, a job, going on a trip, all had different challenges in a different language and culture,” she reminisced vividly.
Not a lot of people know that Layla Abramowitz has Filipino blood running through her veins.
“I am 50% Filipino, as my mother was born in the Philippines. Our Filipino side has some Spanish roots. My father is Jewish-American (the other 50%), and I am classified as 100% American according to my passport,” she quipped.
Layla grew up eating a mix of foods, which included pancit, egg rolls, champorado (chocolate rice porridge), Mocha cake, and lechon.
“I didn’t eat it every day, since it was a bit of trek to find Filipino food. My favorites are lechon pig, egg rolls with raisins, and ensaymadas with macapuno (coconut),” she added.
Layla’s mom was born in Manila and grew up in Quezon City.
“I’ve learned from her to persevere, to be the exception to the rule, to keep going, to take risks. She’s strong and understands about business, people, and family, and works hard to be the exception in what she does,” Layla said.
According to Layla, her mom constantly thinks about new projects and learn new things. “She is perhaps the kindest and most generous person I know,” she added.
Asked why she named her brand Ditu, Layla replied, “Ditu is my name. It was actually my first name on my birth certificate. My parents were Star Wars fanatics, to the point where they named my brother after Aubi-one-Kanobe, as he was the first child. As the second, I was named Ditu. They almost named my sister Cethri, i.e. C3PO,” she shared.
Now, Ditu has become a luxury knitwear label merging the avant-garde with chic wear-ability and Layla is happy with the Star Wars connection.
“As a name for my brand, I liked that the connections were related to the saga of Star Wars, which related to technology, the future, and religious history. It represents global interests, meaning ‘Map’ in Pin-Ying. And at the end of the day the name relates directly to the part of me that is different,” she said. (www.asianjournal.com)
(Published November 12, 2008 p.mgzn5 LAMDWK)
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3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
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