The HUB: Newest Local Shopping Destination
At Manila’s Queen of Streets Escolta lies a new space for sellers of interesting artworks, innovative food items and up cycled clothes, to name a few. Hailed as the central business district during the Spanish colonial days, 98BCollaboratory brings back the rich history as they bring a concept come to life called The Hub. Read on and let’s get to know more of this new space open for business ventures.
Can you tell us the story prior to reviving this almost-forgotten area in Escolta?
Escolta was the commercial hub of Manila during the late 19th century until the city’s destruction during the 2nd World War. A number of the big businesses in the country right now can trace their roots in the street. Majestic buildings designed by important Filipino architects lace the street which is less than a kilometer in length. It was also the place that set the fashion trends of the period.
In what different functions can the space be used?
HUB|Make Lab is an incubation space where creatives and creations converge. The HUB is for those who wish to experiment on a more stable and sustainable setting; it is for sellers and concessionaires of: crafts, interesting art works, limited edition merchandise, artisanal food, upcycled clothes and accessories, independent clothing labels, DIY wares, vintage goods, refurbished antiques and other locally produced items.
How did you come up with this idea of turning a space in Escolta into a venue for crafters and entrepreneurs?
For the last three years, 98B COLLABoratory (98B) in partnership with the First United Building (FUB) have been organizing the Saturday X Future Market @ESCOLTA (SxFM@E). Through the monthly events we were able to meet a lot of creatives and were able to help jump-start a number of artistic and imaginative efforts. While we do recognize that Escolta, which used to be known as the “Queen of Streets,” cannot go back to its old glory days when it was the fashion, commercial and business center, the numerous sellers, buyers and visitors of SxFM@E all contributed to enliven Escolta Street again… albeit, in a different manner. The previous location of the Berg’s Department Store at the ground floor of FUB (then known as the Perez-Samanillo Building) was the site of these monthly events. Here, we were able to attract interesting and resourceful projects. The learnings derived from the whole experience stimulated us to develop a new concept.
How many booths can the venue accommodate? How long can tenants use the space?
With the help of 1/0 Design Collective, the HUB maintains the DIY vibe of SxFM@E. Prospective sellers conceptualized their individual spaces with the notions of transparency, communal spirit, maker culture and interaction. There are 20 spaces to select from (ranging from 6.12 to 12.25 square meters in area). Makers can lease their space for a period of three months.
Can you name us sellers & concessionaires and/or types of businesses that you have collaborated with?
Each quaint space hosts different makers with their own interesting merchandise, stories and backgrounds. The HUB promotes the idea of a creative community that is inspired by the history and heritage that envelopes it.
For this quarter, we have Busy Cocoon (arts and crafts supply store), CIBG (Vintage stuff) and Will’s Wares (pre-loved genuine items such as bags, kitchenware, toys), to name a few. An exciting addition to the blend is the presence of Fred’s Revolución: a home for sincere drinkers… merrily celebrating the legacy of Lolo Fred, born 1905. Opening by the third week of June is the DEN, a cafe and lifestyle shop that promotes locally made products.
What makes the HUB different from other commercial space in the city?
Part of the HUB’s opening salvo is 98B’s ESC Projects that features Jose Tong’s exhibition entitled Double Waters which is an artistic experiment on the ambiguity of objects as art and as a functional object. ESCape Projects deal with spatial negotiations, transformations and interventions. It revolves around particular locations, contexts and renditions—whether as flights of the imagination or discharges of the creative spirit. ESCape artists are given the freedom to conceive and visualize new landscapes. This 98B program evolved as a parallel event of the Saturday X Future Market @ ESCOLTA. For the HUB | Make Lab, it continues its experimental platform as a bi-monthly exhibition, activity, installation or creative endeavor.
The HUB is a project in itself. It attempts to mix art, creativity and design in a setting which is accessible, literally and figuratively, to people from all walks of life.
What is your initiative beyond giving selling opportunities for the tenants?
The long term goal is for the whole street to be considered as a nexus for all things creative. There are other spaces and buildings that can be considered to house such efforts. Escolta may have seen better days but we can rediscover it through new lenses. Its colorful past can be infused with a fresh palette. Merging its former glory with its newfound identity will usher an impending combination of verve and dynamism. A collective effort can make this happen.
The Hub is located at 413 Escolta Street, Mezzanine Level, First United Building, Manila and is open from 11am-8pm, Tuesdays to Sundays. For those who are interested, you can follow them on Facebook or send an inquiry at [email protected]