BABY FASHIONISTAS: HIGH FASHION FOR LITTLE PEOPLE
Donya's children, Sophie and Henri, in costumes made by Baby Fashionistas. |
I first met Gleizl Ann “Donya” Versola-To when we were classmates back in grade school. We were not close, but everyone in our batch knew her because of her fabulous birthday parties, for which everyone, even those in other classrooms, were regularly invited. Despite everyone’s grandiose impression of her childhood, she was never the bratty nor the braggy type. She just had a doting mom who, just like any mother, wanted the best for her daughter.
Donya with her family. |
Fast forward to almost
2 decades, Donya is now a mother of two adorable little kids. Growing up
without siblings (thus, the petname Donya),
she showered her son, Henri, and daughter, Sophie, with all the love and care
that’s probably twice the amount her own mother gave her. It’s just a
misfortune that Donya’s mother never got to see her grandchildren grow. Nevertheless,
Donya stepped into the role of motherhood with her late mom as her benchmark,
never thinking twice when it comes to guiding her kids to discover their purpose
in life.
Of course, a
boyfriend and girlfriend are out of the question. Donya confesses that she is
very protective of her kids, and she refuses to contemplate thoughts of them
getting into the love zone when they reach their teens. This is quite normal
for any parent, I guess.
Donya has gone a long way from being an only child to full time mother. |
“I engage them in
activities that can enhance their talent, and things that will help them
discover their inner self. I allow them to enjoy whatever privileges we have
and, at the same time, I make it a point that they share their blessings. I am
a full time mommy and I specifically enjoy the times when my kids involve me in
their hobbies and interests.”
Fashion plays a big
part in Donya and Sophie’s mother-daughter bonding. “If you are a proud parent
of a baby girl, you’ll realize that there is nothing more fun than dressing her
up! Kids are lucky nowadays because they have more choices in clothing than we
had when we were young. I gave Sophie the freedom to discover her personal
style, and to learn how to mix and match pieces all by herself. I just make
sure that the fabrics are comfortable on her, given the activities she has
everyday. After all, fashion is also about comfort.”
Their mutual love
for fashion led them to discover Baby Fashionistas, a clothing brand which originated
in cyberspace.
“The brand was
created by Primrose Co-Chua. It was originally an online showroom for made to
order pieces, which little girls can wear on special occasions. You see, Prim is
also a stage mom. Her personal desire to dress up her child in unique and
trendy clothes inspired her to translate it into a brand, which, I can say,
does not carry the typical designs found in other local retail shops.”
“I usually order
pieces from Prim for Sophie’s birthday parties. My daughter and I fell in love
with the custom made dress that Prim designed Sophie’s 2nd birthday. We became her
loyal clients as the brand grew over the years. Eventually, what started as a
client-seller relationship turned into a business venture, when Prim granted my
proposal to bring Baby Fashionistas to Davao .”
“More and more
mothers get hooked to kids' fashion. My girl friends would
buy their kid some dresses from Baby Fashionistas, whenever they are in Manila . So, I thought,
maybe I should take the initiative to bring the brand to Davao for all mothers and daughters to
enjoy.”
Donya leased a space
within the Robinson’s department store in Abreeza-Ayala Mall. “I share
ownership with my sister in law. I’m lucky that my daughter is more than
willing to model the clothes for us. In a way, she is involved in this
business, too. As my daughter would plug it, ‘Baby Fashionistas has the
chic-est clothes ever!’”
“We also have shoes
and accessories under our brand. I can proudly say our shoes are stylish and of
great quality. Where else can you find lace covered platforms for little
girls?”
“I made sure the
dresses we have in stock are those that are easily wearable by little girls.
Yes, the cuts are not the usual ones we see on kids, but the dresses are still
comfortable. The designs still suit their age. Our clothing line is a mix of
classy and chic, with colors ranging from sweet pastels to bold colors.”
“We have dresses for
all occasions. For your little girl’s recognition day, I’d recommend you get
her the tulle dress and pair it with our strappy sandals. For her birthday
party, I’d say go for the dress with a bit of lace appliqué and a pair peep toe
platform shoes to make her stand out. If you’re going to a park or mall, she’ll
enjoy running around in our jumpsuit and sandals.”
Visit Baby
Fashionistas at the 3rd level of Robinsons Department Store in
Abreeza. For inquiries on custom made clothes for boys and girls, please call
or text Donya at 0928 799 9951. You may also check their Facebook page, or
order online via http://www.babyfashionistas.multiply.com.
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Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
A2, INdulge section, Edge Davao newspaper, Vol. 5 Issue 82, 27 June 2012.
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Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
A2, INdulge section, Edge Davao newspaper, Vol. 5 Issue 82, 27 June 2012.