Heart Evangelista can hardly believe that she got to collaborate with Italian brand Fornasetti for a limited-edition plate collection especially named after her.
Dubbed Heart x Fornasetti, the one-of-a-kind plate collection is composed of 200 plates, 100 cups, and 100 coasters, available at the Opulence Design Concept stores in The Podium Mall and Newport World Resorts.
The Kapuso actress led the unveiling of the limited-plate collection at a media launch-party at the Opulence Design Concept store in Podium on Monday, December 18, 2023.
The handpainted plate costs PHP20,000 apiece.
But for the launch night, Heart joined design concept store owners Jerry and Jinky Sy in auctioning off three plates that came affixed with the actress's handwritten signature.
Talking about her participation in the event, Heart said: "Well, it's very special because working with Opulence and how, you know, the sound of Opulence sometimes can be a little intimidating.
"But it's the opposite of that. Sir Jerry and Miss Jinky, Opulence is a company that really does give back, not just to their employees, not just to their wonderful clients, but also to the people who matter the most.
"I'm just very happy that we're all able to get together to give back."
The first buyer, Kim Abellar, bought two plates for PHP400,000; while the second buyer, Jinnie Uy, purchased one plate for PHP150,000.
The proceeds, which totaled PHP550,000, will be given to the chosen beneficiary of the Sys, the Child In Life and Development Foundation Inc., which raises funds to provide quality care for children with life-threatening illnesses at the pediatric department of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
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HOW HEART X FORNASETTI COLLAB CAME ABOUT
Heart also expressed gratitude for having her dream collab with the popular Italian brand possible.
"When this happened, I was in Paris at the time. I was having dinner with them. It just landed on my lap," Heart recalled.
"I'm just grateful that sometimes it's really like, in a way, destiny. I wasn't looking for it.
"All I knew is that I was such a huge fan of Fornasetti way, way back.
"And Ms. Jinky and Sir Jerry, they know this. Up to this day, I cannot believe that they would consider me. "
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and another publication, Jinky confirmed that Heart would really buy pieces from the Italian brand from her store prior to the pandemic.
"Last year, we got her as an official ambassador of Opulence, not just Fornasetti...
"Because Heart is a Fornasetti lover, she really buys. Especially during the pandemic, she really buys a lot. She really loves the brand.
"Late last year, we were thinking of who to get as a brand ambassador, there's only one name that would really resonate the brand of [the luxury design concept store], and that's Heart."
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ON CHOOSING THE DESIGN
Jinky went on to say that she brought up the idea of a Heart x Fornasetti collab when she was having dinner with Fornasetti's CEO Andrea Nannoni in Paris January of this year.
"It's actually the first time they're doing it. We just asked, 'Is it okay to come up with a plate for Heart?' Then he said, 'Sure, let's do it!'
"So, last September, we went back to Casa Fornasetti. They did several designs especially for Heart.
Pointing at the limited plate collection, Jinky added, "This is the plate that we chose, together with Heart."
It was Heart, Jinky said, who suggested that the plates be hand-painted with a big heart filled with mini hearts.
Only upon closer inspection will one see that the design also includes the quietly hidden face of a woman that has become iconic to the Italian brand's homeware line.
"And all the [Italian homeware] items are hand-painted," Jinkee noted.
"That's why it's very expensive because it's like holding an art piece.
"So, it's not just a furniture, it's not just a plate, it's an art piece."
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