Can I Tell You... Rocio Tambunting.

I met Rocio last year through her mother Claudia, who I’ve known since my Manila days. She’s a senior at Barnard College majoring in Film Studies and pursuing a minor in political science. She lives in New York (with the most adorable dog ever) with her brother, actor and performer Nacho Tambunting. Alongside her studies, she works as a marketing intern at jewelry designer Joomi Lim.

I was immediately drawn to Rocio’s effervescent personality and her sense of style; playful, colorful and exuberant. She’s loves vintage shopping and isn’t afraid to do her twist on a classic. When I was designing the next collection I thought of the kind of bag that she might love.

The ROCIO flap clutch is constructed from dyed Lupiz straw with a shell inlay ornament on the flap. It also features an adjustable chain shoulder strap with a grosgrain running through the links. You can wear it short and long across your body depending on your mood and look.

Read our Q & A :

1. What is your idea of happiness?

My idea of happiness is being tan in a cute bikini, basking in the sun with my dog, swaying to good house music, and the enjoying the fantastic company of my closest friends and family.

2. What is your greatest extravagance?

My greatest extravagance is probably my dog, Mowgli. Rescued from Malibay in Pasay, he was adopted by my family malnourished and suffering from life threatening kidney and liver diseases. Since then, with lots of TLC, Mowgli has doubled in weight and has been certified as a service animal. Hence, he has been able to accompany me to college in New York. Though I take care of him every day, he too takes care of me! Mowgli grounds me: he shows me everyday that if I can take care of him, I can also take care of myself.

3. What is your current state of mind?

Presently, I am focused on not finding myself, but rather listening to myself. Recently, I have decided to stop repressing and bottling up my emotions. Instead, I challenge myself to feel every feeling, identify it, and discuss it with close confidants: by doing so, I find it easier to let things pass and accept them for what they are. Since, I have found a renewed understanding of the world as I experience it.

4. Whose style do you most admire?

Today, trends are accelerated by the temper and tempo of Tiktok: fast fashion and overconsumption have become the norm. However, some Tiktokers like Clara of @TinyJewishGirl and Mandy Lee of @OldLoserinBrooklyn (on Tiktok). Like me, they champion personal style and take risks that are aligned with their taste: they dress for themselves.

Aesthetically, I find myself inspired by characters rather than people. My fictional style icons include: Fran Drescher (from the Nanny), Holly Golightly (of Breakfast at Tiffany's), Fancy Nancy, Phoebe (from Friends), and Lola (from Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen).

5. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Life during the pandemic was mundane: for a while, I was uninspired and discouraged. Looking for a new creative outlet, I took to repairing old pieces of jewelry then began beading my own pieces. Suddenly, my life was saturated and charged again: I wanted to make something of my own. Slowly, I carved an online presence and developed a bidding system for one of a kind pieces. Eventually, I launched a website and designed a ready to wear collection. Rare by Rocio is one of my life's greatest achievements and I can't wait to see how this part of me blossoms.

6. What is your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possession is my "charm necklace." Over my entire life, I have been gifted a variety of pendants for various life experiences: for graduations, birthdays, awards, etc. Rather than wearing them separately on different necklaces, my maximalist instinct told me to put them all together on one chain. Today, when I wear the necklace, the amalgamation of the charms makes me smile: it's a reminder of who I was, who I am, and who I will be.

7. Who is your favorite writer?

My favorite writer is Laura Mulvey- though she isn't a fictional writer with a large body of novella- she is one of the most, if not the most, important feminist film theorist. Her seminal work, "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," made me (and the entire film world) cognizant of the ways in which female bodies facilitate spectacle on screen. She was the first to coin the term, "the male gaze."

8. Which living person do you most admire?

I most admire my Lulubel, Isabel Caro Wilson. Since I was young, I always had a special connection to her: she taught me how to wear red lipstick, would always read Eloise to me, and molded me into an empowered woman, one who isn't afraid to take up space. From her, I have inherited more than just a few adorable shoes (we have the same size); I have inherited a spirit of independence.

9. Where is your dream destination?

I wouldn't really say I have a dream destination; I can't really imagine myself fixating on one place. However, a dream of mine has always been to travel through the entire Philippines: to see all the provinces, experience all of the rich sub-cultures and dialects, and taste the native flavors of each faction of my culture. I've always felt a responsibility to educate myself on Filipino culture, especially because I am of mixed background and am not fluent in Tagalog. The colonial mentality seems to have infiltrated and eroded my connection to my Filipino heritage: I'd like to undo that.

10. What is your motto?

My Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Professor Paula Franzese once said: "The next time someone tells you that you wear your heart on your sleeve- take it as a compliment." This new digital age has bred a culture of detachment- a generation focused on being cool. In reality, vulnerability is your superpower; it fosters connections; it breeds empathy and it could create a world where we feel empowered to be present and kind- rather than out-of-touch and indifferent.

If you love the clutch as much as Rocio does, be sure to check the other colors by tapping on the link below.