Cover Inside Casa Bella and Carl Jan Cruz’s collaborative exhibition
Inside Casa Bella and Carl Jan Cruz’s collaborative exhibition
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Interior design and fashion cross boundaries in an immersive exhibition of form and material between Casa Bella and Carl Jan Cruz
Among the Philippine design scene’s strengths, its collaborative nature stands out. On June 4, luxury furniture brand Casa Bella and acclaimed fashion designer Carl Jan Cruz staged an exhibition, challenging the boundaries between European modernist furniture and contemporary Filipino fashion.
Casa Bella Home and Living Corp has been the pioneering distributor of renowned European furniture brands since 2009. Founded by power couple Joseph Tay Jr and Stephanie “Stenie” Coyiuto-Tay, Casa Bella has catered to discerning clients for over a decade, featuring brands like Cassina, Kettal, Moroso and Henge.
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Above Carl Jan Cruz, Stenie Coyiuto
Above A playful juxtaposition of colours and textures at the Carl Jan Cruz exhibit in the Casa Bella showroom in Makati
Carl Jan Cruz, Stenie Coyiuto
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Above A glimpse of the Carl Jan Cruz bags on display at the Casabella showroom
A glimpse of the Carl Jan Cruz bags on display at the Casabella showroom
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The fashion designer Carl Jan Cruz, operating from his Taguig headquarters since 2015, has built a reputation of transforming quintessentially Filipino elements, from humble pambahay to nostalgic pique fabrics, into coveted contemporary pieces. Casa Bella's expertise in presenting European modernist furniture within Filipino homes parallels Cruz's mission of reimagining Filipino fashion for contemporary lifestyles.
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Above Dennis Robles, Suzette Ayson, Stephanie Tay, Vianca Favila
Above Jason Buensalido, Dana Uy Kingsu, Joseph Tay
Dennis Robles, Suzette Ayson, Stephanie Tay, Vianca Favila
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Above Grace Reyes Serapio, Nicole Serapio
Above Romina Dayanghirang, Mikaela Dayanghirang
Grace Reyes Serapio, Nicole Serapio
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Above Melissa Romualdez, Maritess Pineda, Rachel Wenger
Melissa Romualdez, Maritess Pineda, Rachel Wenger
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The exhibition showcased four of Cruz's signature collections—Pambahay, Piqué, Wardrobe Denims and Rib Bags—through immersive vignettes within Casa Bella's sophisticated showroom environment.
The installations created striking dialogues between Italian craftsmanship and Filipino sensibilities. Here, a CJC soft mannequin in full ensemble was positioned atop Pierre Jeanneret’s iconic Kangaroo Chair. Charlotte Perriand’s Indochine chairs provided a backdrop for a CJC tapestry. Finally, Cruz’s signature rib bags, typically described as “sack-like bags Frankenstein-stitched together in twill and poplin”, were reimagined as planters and storage solutions.
This collaboration signals an exciting evolution for both brands. For Casa Bella, it demonstrated their showroom as a platform for interdisciplinary creative expression. For Cruz, it marked his most ambitious foray into spatial design and object-based storytelling between different design worlds.
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
