16 December 2016 — Philippine jewelry artisans were featured in a trunk show by Vera at Seefeldstrasse, Zürich on December 14.  It was the first time for the collections of the said Philippine jewelry artisans to be exhibited in Europe. The Philippine Embassy in Berne attended the launch.

Vera, which is about jewelry and accessories for “moments of glory,” featured a curated collection from seven independent Filipino designers and artisan groups such as follows Banago, Ethnique, Joyce Maquitalo, Joanique, Merriam Batara, Natalya Lagdameo and Vida Lim. It was the first time for the collections of the said brands to be showcased in Europe.

The trunk show also marks the first European launch for the Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women) Project, a governance and capacity development project that aims to promote and support a gender-responsive enabling environment for women's economic empowerment, particularly those in microenterprises. The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the national machinery for the advancement of women in the Philippines, is the lead executing agency for the Project.  VERA is a retail partner of GREAT Women. 

Ms. Valerie Remoquillo-Jenni, the founder of VERA, wants to put a spotlight on outstanding Filipino designers and artisans, their talents and point of view. 

It’s Ms. Jenni’s way of coming home, promoting impeccably crafted accessories, cherished by the designers who make them and by the women who wear them. VERA is the Latin word for “true” and that’s exactly what she wants to celebrate: real women confident in their true style and living in their glorious moment. END