Contemporary/Classic Salvatore Mann Shoes & Bags at SM

While dressing up has become more relaxed in recent years, elegance is timeless. And Salvatore Mann Shoes and Bags highlight contemporary classics for today’s man of style at SM.

Salvatore Mann shoes give a fresh look to footwear for more formal occasions. These include brogues, the workhorse shoe perfect with everything from jeans to suits; lace up derbies that give a dressed up – but not too dressed up – look, black cap-toe oxfords for every dressed up occasion, as well as preppie loafers and slip-ons.

Salvatore Mann bags, on the other hand, combine function and style with updated backpacks, messenger bags, and modern briefcases.

The Salvatore Mann collection is available exclusively at The SM Store.

                                                                                       

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Classic/contemporary Salvatore Mann Shoes and Bags

Watanabe perforated sleek leather shoes.

Salvatore Mann elements of style

Officine updates the classic shoe with texture and shading.

Formal appointments with Salvatore Mann Shoes and Bags 

Gavyn messenger bag

Isai Single shoulder backpack

Go places in style with Salvatore Mann Shoes and Bags

Savvy and savoir faire with Salvatore Mann Shoes and Bags 

Anderson slip- on shoes with stitch details

Salvatore Mann Shoes and Bags have a nostalgic vibe

Mang Inasal marks a milestone with opening of 500th store

Mang Inasal, the fastest growing fast-food restaurant that serves the 2-in-1 sa Laki, Nuot-sa-Ihaw Sarap Chicken Inasal loved by everyone, celebrates a milestone as it formally opens its 500th store in the city where it all began - Iloilo.

The well-loved grillery chain already gave Filipinos a preview of the milestone store located at the Iloilo City Center, West Diversion Road in Mandurriao, Iloilo City when it made a soft opening in April.

Mang Inasal kicked off the grand opening festivities on June 19, with the unveiling of a commemorative 500th store marker. It is made up of banana leaves encased in resin and arranged in Pintados pattern. The inscription takes pride of Mang Inasal’s growth in the past 15 years. 

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) Chairman and Founder Tony Tan Caktiong, JFC Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong, and JFC Country Business Group Head for the Philippines Joseph Tanbuntiong led the unveiling of the ceremonial marker, the ribbon-cutting, and the ceremonial first bite of the iconic Chicken Inasal. They were accompanied by Guests of Honor Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Mang Inasal founder and now Double Dragon Properties, Corp. Chairman and CEO Edgar “Injap” Sia II.

“Mang Inasal is happy to share its milestone of reaching 500 stores with Filipinos who have been with us in our journey in the food service industry,” said Mang Inasal Strategic Business Unit Head Jojo P. Subido as he welcomed everyone to the celebration.  

Mr. Sia was honored with a banana leaf token to pay tribute to his visionary leadership. Mayor Espinosa expressed appreciation to MI for its decision to go back to its roots. The 500th store is the 17th Mang Inasal store in Iloilo City.

Provincial homey grillery 

The 500th store is unlike any other Mang Inasal branch. Its distinct exterior displays a fresh and contemporary appeal but without losing Mang Inasal’s unique Filipino sentimentality. 

Inspired by houses built in the post-war era, the milestone store is designed to have a simple, functional, and commonplace aesthetics, according to JFC Corporate Global Real Estate Chief Real Estate Officer, William Tan Untiong.

Meanwhile, the store’s interior styling features pieces that exude a touch of home to embrace the provincial, homey grillery ambience that Filipinos have grown accustomed to at Mang Inasal. Colorful buntings hang on the high ceiling and tribal Pintados-patterned walls evoke cheerful Iloilo festivity. Murals that exhibit vibrant infographic and geometric and texture elements also beautify the store’s interiors to highlight modern Pinoy artistry. 

Meanwhile, the employees of the Mang Inasal 500th Store are also dressed up in a new set of uniforms designed by renowned fashion designer Rajo Laurel.

DOT’s ‘Philippine Harvest’ banners culinary tourism

TAGUIG CITY –The best of Philippines’ culinary destinations were showcased in the successful 9th edition of the Philippine Harvest.

A joint collaboration of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Stores Specialists Inc (SSI), the four-day food trade fair expo at the Central Square Mall on Bonifacio High Street, Global City focused on different food destinations and local flavors across the country.

Local produce from the 40 local food exhibitors bannered in the food show included Balangay’s Best dried pusit, dilis, and dangit from Bantayan Island, Cebu, C.O.P. pili nuts from Albay province, El Union draft coffee from La Union, Oro Verde mangoes from Guimaras, Fresh Start Organics piaya from Negros Occidental, Auro Chocolates from Davao, Casa del Formaggio cheese from Negros Island, Kajuayan Coco water from Quezon, and Sweets for Ferann silvanas from Dumaguete.

“The way to promote a country is through its food, culinary tourism. You can, through Philippine Harvest, go around and taste the food from all over the country in just one place,” DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Farmers, fisherfolk, and farm practitioners were also invited for an interactive dialogue and local food exhibition.

“Farms now are tourist spots. More and more people want to visit farms, plant, harvest, and to experience farming. We already have accredited farms that tourists can go to and experience agriculture,” added Secretary Romulo-Puyat, formerly DA Undersecretary for Agribusiness and Marketing Regional Engagement.

Among the growing list of 52 DOT accredited agri-tourism farm camps participating in the food and farm fair are Milea Bee Farms in Batangas, and Costales Nature Farm and Forest Wood Garden in Laguna.

“We're just really grateful to be given this opportunity to showcase what we're doing at the farm Forest Wood Garden as well as in the resto Forest City Restaurant together to promote the food, our signature dish Pansit Kalabuko, and at the same time nakikilala ‘yung city namin, San Pablo City,” Food Wood Garden owner Myrna Katigbak-Frago shared.

SSI president Anton Huang along with diplomats from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Spain, Venezuela, France, and Nigeria graced the opening ceremonies in support of farm tourism and indigenous Philippine products.

“We have given local farmers and Pinoy ‘agripreneurs’ a channel to showcase the Philippines’ finest flavors and ingredients,” said SSI president Anton Huang.

Secretary Puyat also shared that a good number of the diplomatic corps have not been able to go around the country to taste our food and they're so happy that they are able to finally taste the best of Filipino food which they can find in different culinary destinations.

DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat: When you visit another country, you also look for great food. It’s always part of the itinerary.

Ceremonial toast for the opening of the 9th Philippine Harvest led by DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat (fourth from left) and Store Specialist Inc. President Anthony Huang (first)

Local produce from different culinary destinations like Leyte, Zamboanga, Bukidnon, Dumaguete, and Pangasinan made available at the Central Square Mall

Globe gathers volunteers for Brigada Eskwela 2018 as part of Time Please

Globe Telecom joins the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela 2018 with the theme, “Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan Para sa Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan,” as part of its effort to encourage more Filipinos to take on volunteer initiatives via Time Please, a collaboration between the telecom firm and The Walt Disney Company, Philippines.

 Globe employees take time off to prepare public school facilities for class opening.

Tapping into the selfless hearts of Filipinos, Globe aims to make volunteer activities, especially during the Brigada Eskwela season, accessible and fun to do with friends and family. Through Time Please, non-government organizations, government agencies, private companies, the academe, and even individuals can easily connect with communities to continue spreading acts of kindness to those who are in need.

“Globe wants to cultivate a society that cares for humanity. We hope that with the nationwide initiative like Time Please, we can engage more individuals, communities, and companies to actively contribute to nation-building by sharing their time, talent, and treasure like what we are doing for Brigada Eskwela,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications. Globe participates in Brigada Eskwela each year, with employee volunteers helping clean, paint, and repair classrooms, tables and chairs in time for the opening of classes.

“Gawin po natin ang lahat ng ating magagawa, nang sa gayon, iyong mga bagay na kung tayo po'y nag-iisa lamang ay hindi natin maaabot, sa pamamagitan ng partnership ay ating maaabot. Ito iyong mga bagay, iyong mga pangarap, iyong mga layunin, na hindi po natin makakamtan kung tayo po'y nag-iisa lamang (Let us do everything we can so that the things that we cannot do alone may be achieved through partnerships. These includes our dreams and objectives which we cannot attain if we are alone),” Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and School Sports Tonisito Umali said in a recent press conference for Brigada Eskwela.

Globe has always supported education-related activities including the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) which promotes responsible digital citizenship; PRISM, which is aimed at advancing digital literacy of teachers; and Strategy Innovation, and Transformation (ShiftED), which assists the government and schools in developing globally-competitive students and teachers.

Time Please is also in line with Globe Telecom’s commitment to nine of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and appeals to the Filipinos’ strong culture of volunteerism rooted in the bayanihan spirit to collectively contribute to social development.

With the assistance of Future Maker iVolunteer Philippines, Globe has made it easier for everyone to create or look for volunteer opportunities by signing up at www.timeplease.ph and the volunteer portal of Gawad Kalinga through any device with Internet access. Groups comprised of two to four volunteers must be formed to join the activities. Additionally, companies without existing volunteer programs would be able to match their employees to various volunteering opportunities that suit them, while companies with existing volunteer programs may also register.

Globe Employees doing a #GlobeofGood at Bangkal National Highschool in Makati joined by Globe Chief Human Resource Officer, Renato Jiao and Chief Human Resources Officer and Group Head for Corporate Resources of Ayala Corp, JP Orbeta.

By joining this volunteer program and registering to the site, every group’s hours are counted while they gain the chance to win prizes from Globe.

Globe drive vs. fraudsters leads to convictions in Visayas

The ongoing campaign of Globe Telecom to prosecute fraudsters resulted in the conviction of three suspects after appropriate criminal cases were filed against them

Winston Rafael Longcob was sentenced by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) 10 in Cebu City last May 18 to three years of imprisonment after being found guilty of estafa. In Bacolod City, the RTC 43 found Jarryd Nielsen Villaflor and Michael Ken Ledesma guilty of violating the Republic Act 8484 or Access Device Law and were sentenced both to six years in prison and fined five thousand pesos each last May 22.

Longcob was arrested after acquiring high-end phones from Globe Gaisano Mall and SM Seaside Stores by submitting fake documents. Meanwhile, Villaflor and Ledesma were arrested in a joint entrapment operation conducted by Globe Security and PNP-CIDG in 2014 for selling illegal Wimax.

Globe said in a statement that the company will continue to be relentless in pursuing all types of fraud that can damage the company’s reputation and can affect legitimate Globe customers.  “We want to remind our customers to only transact with legitimate sellers and distributors or to any Globe Stores ensure the right customer experience.”

Globe further stated that the company will work hand in hand with the authorities to catch more people committing acts of fraud against the company. “Globe is committed to protect the interest of the company and its customers against these fraudsters by working closely with the Philippine National Police.”

Globe Telecom’s intensified campaign versus fraudsters is intended to protect its customers from illegal activities involving its products and services.

SIMPLY SHOES: YOUR EVERYDAY-SHOE STORE

It has been said that apart from diamonds, shoes are a woman’s best friend.  And it’s not surprising. Christian Louboutin, who is known for his iconic shoe designs, has said, that “a woman can be charming, witty, sexy, or shy with her shoes”. Designer Tracy Reese, on the other hand, has her take on the power of wearing the right shoe: “shoes are the finishing touch on any outfit and it is important to complete a look with the perfect pair.”

Simply Shoes, an affiliate of SM Retail, is a woman’s everyday shoe store with pumps, sandals, slip-ons, and everything else in between for her day-to-day activities. Be it for work or play, Simply Shoes has comfy and affordable options. 

There are timeless pumps for work, drinks, dinners, and random semi-dressy occasions; ballerina flats that never go out of style; as well as classic loafers and slip-ons for casual days at the office or weekends at home.  If you want a trendier look, there are fun flatties with lots of personality, fancy party heels, strappy sandals, and of the moment styles.  And of course, there are sneakers that can now be worn on the gym, and with dressier outfits.

Simply Shoes opened its first branch at Waltermart Tanauan, Batangas last September 2014. Today, Simply Shoes has 39 branches across the country: from as far north as SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown in Cagayan to as far south as Citymall Koronadal in South Cotabato. 

Visit the Simply Shoes branch nearest you, or get connected with Simply Shoes through Simply Shoes PH on Facebook and @SimplyShoesOfficial on Instagram.  

 Simply Shoes, your everyday-shoe store, has all your day-to-day shoe needs

 Sling backs with pointed toes from Parisian

 Simply Shoes has sandals for your laid-back days

 Blush Rush: Pink sandals from Parisian  

 On-trend caged flat sandals from Parisian

 Work on your errands comfortably with this selection from Simply Shoes

 These loafers from Parisian Comfy are great for walking around the city

 Join in the active lifestyle with these sneakers from Kicks   

 Relaxed casual sandals from Parisian available at Simply Shoes

Versatile wedges from Parisian

Investing in a Shared Tomorrow: ePerformax launches new site in Roxas City

In the heart of Capiz, ePerformax officially celebrates the grand opening of their newest facility in the country. Located at the Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark in Roxas City, this new site is further proof of the company’s continued commitment to growing and developing the Philippines as one of the leading BPO service providers in the world.

First opening their doors here on our shores back in 2002, ePerformax Contact Centers & BPO was one of the first contact centers in the Philippines. The company has primarily focused its operations on providing the highest levels of BPO and customer service to a select group of Fortune 500 companies. ePerformax provides support for their English-speaking customers in locations around the globe. The company utilizes voice, email, chat, messaging, and social media to handle customer interactions that include customer service, inbound sales and order entry, billing/account support, technical support, product/service support, website navigation support, and travel reservations, along with non-voice BPO activities to support clients’ comprehensive outsourcing requirements.

Teresa Hartsaw, President and CEO of ePerformax, looks forward to the company becoming a long-term partner in growing and developing Roxas City. “We want to be more than mere employers here. We want to become stakeholders in this vibrant community as well,” she points out, “ePerformax will provide long-term growth and career opportunities for all employees while ensuring that there is adequate work-life balance and integration. In today’s work environment, there has to be a partnership between the employee and the company and the community to really be successful. We are very excited about being part of Roxas City and Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark and creating a family environment and looking out for the well-being of everyone involved.”  

Fortunately, Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark is the perfect partner for ePerformax’s goal to create a holistic working environment for their employees. Bub Ong, Pueblo de Panay President and CEO, considers ePerformax a flagship partner in the TechnoPark. “We share the same values,” he says, “our drive to create a welcoming environment here in Pueblo de Panay, a place where people from different walks of life can come together, fits hand-in-hand with their commitment to the local community.”

The new facility will also house an ePerformax Global Communications & Management Academy. “The GCMA is part of our continuing strategy to invest in our people so they are ready for the evolution in BPO services,” says Mike Tanner, ePerformax Roxas VP and General Manager. “Our industry is becoming more sophisticated and requires a higher level of professional skills. We are invested in developing our employees to grow in their careers and maximize their potential. We feel fortunate to be here in Roxas and to find such a great community of people to work with.” 

Several multinational companies have come to trust and depend on ePerformax. One such client is PayPal. “ePerformax and PayPal have a mutual desire to deliver the best quality service as fast as possible,” explains David Reedy, Director of PayPal, “We are very pleased to be the first company to occupy the beautiful new building in Roxas City! We are already seeing the teammates deliver a better customer experience and look forward to continued growth.” With the level of service and care that ePerformax provides, it’s plain to see why the company has continued to prosper with their client-partners.

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Globe welcomes latest crowdsourcing speed test results in PH

Average fixed broadband download speeds in the Philippines now 5 times faster versus 2014

In reaction to latest news reports and blogs about the speed test results in the Philippines, Globe reiterated its commitment to improve internet speeds and the overall quality of experience (QoE) of internet services. The Philippines is now the most improved country in Southeast Asia when it comes to Internet connection, clocking 5 times faster fixed broadband download speeds according to a recent infographic released by Yugatech using the latest Ookla data.

The new infographic is a welcome update to previous infographics portraying the country as Asia's laggard. Based on the 2018 report by Ookla, the average fixed broadband download speed in the Philippines is 5 times faster than  in 2014.

According to Speedtest Global Index Report by Ookla for April 2018, fixed broadband download speeds have increased dramatically by 403% to 17.62Mbps as of April 2018, from 3.5Mbps in 2014.  The country is followed by Malaysia with 391% improvement.

For mobile, average download speeds in the Philippines continued to improve from May 2017 to April 2018, according to a Yugatech report citing an Open Signal data.

Globe was able to retain its position of having the widest 4G availability as its users were able to find its 4G connections 67.5% of the time, the report read.

“These consistent reports from Ookla and other crowd sourcing speed tests showed that our high network investments have started to pay off. We were able to improve our internet services by efficiently using our spectrum assets and improving our network continuously,” Joel Agustin, Globe SVP for Network Technology Group, said in a statement.

Globe Telecom is allotting $850 million to $900 million every year until 2020 as capital expenditures (capex), in a bid to continuously upgrade its network for its fast-growing data business.

In the first 3 months of 2018, Globe already spent around P6.6 billion to remarkably expand its network and support the growing subscriber base and demand for data.

In terms of wired broadband facilities, Globe was able to deploy fiber broadband in 12 cities in Metro Manila as well as in 19 provinces nationwide. Majority of the company’s fiber build are located in Quezon City, Sta. Rosa and Calamba in Laguna as well as in Cebu and Davao.

Globe continues to deploy VDSL and now includes 16 cities in Metro Manila and in 18 areas that include Bulacan, Cavite, Baguio, Cavite, Cebu and Davao City. VDSL technology provides high-speed Broadband service up to 200 Mbps using existing copper footprint.   

Agustin said that the total deployment using various broadband technologies reached more than 1 million lines since 2016. The company’s bid to deploy 2 million broadband lines by 2020 is expected to redefine home broadband experience for Filipinos amid growing customer demand for bandwidth-intensive multimedia content.

Using the 2600 MHz, Globe also fired up almost 200 massive MIMO sites, enabling a mobile network to multiply the capacity of a wireless connection without requiring more antennas.

The company’s deployment of massive MIMO technology has also been working to accelerate the company’s bid to roll out 2 million home broadband lines, with speeds of at least 10 Mbps by 2020. “The goal is to provide for the growing data service needs of our customers and the company will continue to aggressively roll out broadband lines using latest available technologies such as the massive MIMO,” he said.

In early 2017, Globe started the commercial deployment of massive MIMO to enhance mobile internet connectivity experience of customers in high-density areas. The commercial deployment of the MIMO technology forms part of the company’s efforts to further improve mobile and wireless broadband internet experience of its customers by expanding on its network coverage and capacities.

Globe continues to be aggressive in expanding its LTE coverage across the country by deploying additional 934 LTE sites using the 700MHz, 2600 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies in the first quarter of the year including Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, and Batanes. ###

INFOGRAPH CAPTION: Infograph courtesy of Yugatech. Released with permission from Yugatech

It’s Time to Watch These Star Wars Films on DisneyLife and Know More About Han Solo

Journey to a galaxy far, far away with the new app, powered by Globe Postpaid ThePLAN!

 In need of a refresher on the whole Star Wars series for the latest installment, Solo: A Star Wars Story? There’s no better way to do so than with the newly-launched DisneyLife app!

In the new film, moviegoers will see how Han Solo—the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy—meets his mighty future co-pilot Chewbacca, encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, and becomes one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld.

 With the new DisneyLife app, brush up on the epic space saga with a movie marathon of past Star Wars movies! The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Return of the Sith, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi are all available on DisneyLife for your binge-watching pleasure.

 Experience all the wonders of Disney in one app with Globe Postpaid ThePLAN. All existing Globe mobile Postpaid subscribers and new or recontracting subs for ThePLAN or ThePLAN Plus 999 and up from May 25 to August 31 will receive a free 6-month subscription to the DisneyLife app. Visit this website for more details on how to activate DisneyLife on your Globe Postpaid plan.

DisneyLife offers over 350 movies, more than 5,000 TV episodes, and over 6,000 songs from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars -- all in one app! Aside from regular Disney shows, customers can watch shorts, behind-the-scenes, and other special content. Plus, you can also stream your favorite Disney soundtracks. The app allows customers to download content for offline viewing and listening as well.

The DisneyLife app is compatible with iOS and Android devices. To learn more about DisneyLife promos, visit a Globe store now. Check out disneylife.ph or globe.com/content/DisneyLife for more details.

SM CARES WINS PRESTIGIOUS ALBERT SUSSMAN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AWARD

SM Prime’s pioneering housing project for survivors of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) has won the prestigious Albert Sussman International Community Support Award of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation, the global trade association of the shopping center industry.

Marissa Fernan, Vice President of SM Prime Holdings, receives the ICSC Foundation Albert Sussman International Community Support Award from Scott Harris, ICSC Managing Director of Asia-Pacific at the awarding ceremonies held in Las Vegas, USA last May 20, 2018.  

The award was conferred during the Global Retail Real Estate Convention (RECon) in Las Vegas, USA last May 20, 2018.

The Albert Sussman International Community Support Award is considered the highest honour in the community support award program of the ICSC Foundation which was organized to acknowledge outstanding humanitarian work of the retail industry in the community and recognize the industry’s most innovative and impactful initiatives.

The ICSC Foundation Community Support Awards recognizes outstanding community support programs of institutions, committed to social responsibility and community outreach efforts by retail establishments, their management companies, or retailers.

Prior to winning the prestigious award, SM Cares was also recognized with the ICSC Global Awards 2017 for Asia Pacific, held last October 24, 2017, in Bangkok, Thailand.

One of SM Cares’ partner NGOs, CFC-ANCOP, will also receive an additional financial grant from the ICSC Foundation.

SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman Hans T. Sy spearheaded the SM Cares Housing Project in which a total of 1,000 shelter units were donated in areas heavily struck by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Central Visayas.

The project is a joint undertaking of SM and its service providers, tenants, employees, and communities who all pitched in to build the houses and their communities. The disaster-resilient houses were given to the beneficiaries for free, and SM worked with several NGO partners for its community development, including livelihood and values formation activities.

Hans Sy said the award is a recognition of the valuable contribution of SM’s partners and the painstaking work the hundreds of volunteers had given into making the villages vibrant communities that they are today.

Sy added that the award is a testament to the courage and resiliency of the human spirit in the face of the biggest tragedy. “We have shown to the world how people could bounce back after a tragedy and how communities composed of strangers could thrive and grow together with the help of well-meaning groups and advocates,” Sy said.

There are four SM Cares’ Housing Villages in the Visayas, located in Bogo, Cebu (200 houses), Concepcion, Iloilo (200 houses), Tacloban (400 houses) and Ormoc, Leyte (200 houses).

Sy added that the award will serve as the company’s inspiration to continue to be stewards of the communities where their malls operate. “We are proud of this project because we have shown the Filipino bayanihan at its best. We have people working together to uplift the lives of our countrymen and through their determination to get back on their feet, they have achieved what seemed to be a daunting task of not only recovering from a tragedy but making it an opportunity to live better. We are inspired to continue doing this for more communities and for more people,” Sy said.​

"damOZel" The Wedding Rituals 2018

Every women dreams of a perfect wedding that includes the love of her life, celebration with family and friends and of course, to be in a lovely wedding dress during that important day in her life. Over the years, many Ilonggo designers have showcased their bridal gowns in the Wedding Rituals fashion show held at Robinson's Place Iloilo. This year, here are the bridal gowns made by the participating designers. 

Guest Designer Oz Go's creations: