Leather Care Project: How do we take care of our bags?

Official cover photo of Leather Care Project

I buy a bag when there is something major to celebrate, which usually brings out the feeling of empowerment. In terms of frequency, I buy once a year only, so I do not end up with a lot of bags that I would not be able to use after a while.  I love bags.  They bring me joy, but owning too many bags at once is borderline clutter. 

I make an inventory of my bags twice a year.  This was also the time I would bring a bag to a bag spa for deep cleaning - one bag after the other.  After several years, I opened my own bag spa business - Leather Care Project. I never thought that my love for bags could become the start of an entrepreneurial journey - but this is one story all together.  

Again, bags.  I don't baby my bags.  I use them, and I use them well.  They are exposed to elements, including harmful germs.  Keep it a habit to clean and disinfect your bags the right way - this prolongs the useful life of your bags.  You and the people around you (especially at home) benefit from the practice of keeping harmful germs away from your precious bags.  

For bag collectors, or people who oftentimes receive bags as gift, bag rotation can be a challenge. The longer you keep the bags in storage, the more vulnerable they are to the unpleasant effects of humidity; molds and mildew included.  We live in a tropical country where humidity is almost always high. If the bags are stored, to the point they are not readily visible to you, you tend to forget about them until the next spring cleaning.  Post-spring cleaning, you just hope the defects you discovered can be fixed at a reasonable fee.  Here is a big realization for a bag hag like me: there comes a time when I need to let go of a bag.  Letting go means handing it over to my niece, or selling it in the pre-loved handbag market.  It is like giving the bag a second chance to become a source of joy, or you giving joy to another bag lover. When you let go of a bag or two, it also means making space for a new one.  Our choice of bag styles also changes over time. 

In simple terms, how do we take care of our bags?  

1.  Use your bags.  Use them well.  They will age well. 

2.  Air your bags regularly, but do not expose it to direct sunlight.  This is ideally done once a week, but our busy lives could probably allow once a month.    Good ventilation is healthy for your handbag.  

3.  Wipe your handbag clean with a soft cotton cloth.  An old cotton t-shirt can do the trick.  For suede, use a suede brush or soft-bristled toothbrush.   For fabric, a soft-bristled toothbrush or horse hairbrush can prevent dust from settling into the fibers.  

Leather Care Project uses all-natural horse hairbrush from Germany.

4.  Make sure that your bag is dry before you keep it in a dust bag.  This is to avoid (excessive) moisture build up while in storage.  Excessive moisture is a breeding place for molds or mildew.  Brush the lining using a soft brush to shake off dirt or dust.  

From Leather Care Project's file:  A fabric bag with (unwanted) mildew.  Mildew can be prevented.  Once mildew starts to spread on your bag, consult a handbag cleaning and restoration expert. 

From Leather Care Project's file:  The clean and disinfected version.  No more mildew and stains after deep cleaning. 

5.  Store your bag in a dust bag.  One bag is to one dust bag.  No dust bag, no problem.  A soft pillow case can work as an alternative. Avoid storing leather bags in plastic.  Leather is skin.  Skin must be able to breathe. 

Storage tip for hardware:  Wrap detachable hardware separately.  In case the hardware tarnishes overtime, its dark color will not transfer to the adjacent fabric or leather. 

6.  To maintain the shape of your bag, use a stuffer when storing.  DIY stuffer:  bundle clean, white bond papers; wrap in white Japanese paper. Tape the ends to hold the paper bundle in place.

7.  Avoid spilling solvent on your bag.  Solvent may cause the bag's color to bleed. 

8.  When leather becomes sticky, refer to Tip #2, and then store your bag in a cooler room.  Do not place it right next to other bags to avoid color transfer.  Observe. If stickiness persists, consult a handbag cleaning expert.  

9.  If you must purchase a cleaning or polishing product, it has to be intended for the type of materials of your bag (example:  smooth leather / patent (shiny layer) / suede or nubuck / fabric).  Read the label before purchasing.  

10.  If you must apply any product to your bag, do a spot test in a hidden section of the bag.  Check the material's reaction to the product before applying it to the entire bag. 

For more information about handbag cleaning and restoration, visit our Leather Care Project page in Facebook and Instagram (@leathercareproject).  

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Leather Care Project offers professional cleaning and restoration services for your handbags and shoes.  We have thriving online presence through Facebook and Instagram, and our studio is located south of Manila.    We provide free online assessment through our Facebook page.  Handbag pick-up and delivery processes are done through 3rd party courier, or scheduled appointment in Makati, BGC, and MOA central business districts.  

Splendido Sunset Run 2017 - Leave No Man Behind

Splendido Sunset Run is back!  Mark your calendar, register, and bring the whole bunch to a fun Saturday at Splendido on December 16.  They sure know how to treat everyone with an excellent view of the sunset along the ridges of Tagaytay / Nasugbu.  There is a 5 km category for kids and kids at heart (I just realized that 5 km is my new 21 km).  The 12 km category is tagged as a TRIO for runners and their BFFs.  If you are into testing the limits of your legs on an elevated terrain, then there is a 21 km category for you.  

Splendido has a condo-hotel with plenty of rooms for you and your family/friends.  Why not stay overnight and enjoy the cool December breeze of Tagaytay?  Splendido is offering discount on accommodation to Sunset Run participants, just call or send them an email through the contact details provided below before you book. 

Our friends from Splendido wish to share these fabulous slides to provide you with more information at a glance.  

[Press Release] The first ever "Hello Kitty Run" event in PH

What a success!  This is how we refer to the first ever "Hello Kitty Run" event in the country, carrying the 2017 theme "Link Love Together."

Tokyo Gets Co., Ltd., a Japan-based entertainment agency, through its local affiliate Ten:22 Business Solutions, first brought the " Hello Kitty Run Manila" on 21st October 2017 at the SM By The Bay, SM Mall of Asia.  It was a major success, with over 10,000 participants.

The first Hello Kitty fun run was held in Bangkok in February 2016.  Afterwards, it was also brought by Tokyo Gets to many other Asian countries, such as, Singapore, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Throughout the event, the concept " Link Love Together" was widely adopted from race kits to decorations, merchandise to food & beverage, etc.  The event attracted numerous media support both from online and offline platforms. 

Tokyo Gets and Ten:22 would like to acknowledge and appreciate the support of its main partner CHERIFER Syrup, along with other sponsors, namely, SM By the Bay, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Otaku Asia, Golden Phoenix Hotel, Rizal Park Hotel, Hisense, Toy Kingdom, Skin White, Skechers, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear, Pascual Creamy Delight, Fujifilm Instax, Salonpas, ACER, Softex, Gardenia, Kinds in Mind, Banana Peel, Bert Lozada Swim School, Mogu Mogu, UBER PH, Chips Delight, and UCC Coffee.  They filled the grounds with dozens of themed activities, games, and photo corners that provided the runners a fun-filled and memorable day!

Social networking sites Facebook and Instagram unleashed their power to create the hype and euphoria for Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017.  The first week of its Facebook page showed an instant 10,000 followers, and had more than 31,000 followers during the event day itself!  Registered participants happily and proudly shared their photos and status with the hashtags #HelloKittyRunManila2017, # LinkLoveTogether, and #HKRManila2017.  

Following the success of "Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017 - Link Love Together", Tokyo Gets and Ten:220 are excited and proud to present the next event in Cebu, Philippines early 2018.  

Character events draw a lot of attention in Asia and it is highly anticipated that characters-related promotion will be a continuous trend.  Tokyo Gets Co., Ltd. has branch offices in Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, and partners with Ten:22 Business Solutions in the Philippines to provide optimal licensing promotion based on the culture and trends of the country.  

We provide support services to solve complex license agreement problems from content selection, negotiation, contract making to production, etc.  For further information and inquiries, please get in tough with Mr. Lynard Longcop via email at lblongcop@ten22businesssolutions.com, or Miss Yamada at tg_tokyo_info@tokyogets.com.  

(c) 1976, 2017 SANRIO CO., LTD  Approval No.: P170800041TG

5 Reasons Why I Enjoyed Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017

October 21, 2017 - the date marked for the first ever Hello Kitty Run in Manila.  I did not check whether it was an auspicious date, but what we had that day was a great weather and a highly energetic crowd.  SM Mall of Asia Complex offered a route that was lined with Hello Kitty props of pink and white for a perfect selfie and groufie for all participants.   

On a more personal note, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another edition of the Hello Kitty Run in 2018.  

This year's Hello Kitty Run Manila was indeed one of the most enjoyable, family/kid-friendly run events I ever participated in.  As I'm writing this blog, a week has already passed since the event, but I still get that happy feeling whenever I view event photos circulating in social media.  It should be easier now to write about the event, and sum up my enthusiasm in five points.  

1.  I'm a cat person.  I love Hello Kitty. No explanation needed.  

2.  It was a kid-, family-friendly event.  A lot of participants showed up wearing pink tutus and other personal effects which can be easily associated with Hello Kitty.  Every one was into the scene and ready to be seen - donning costumes and some cosplay make up, selfie-ready camera phones, selfie sticks, and their favorite running buddies. 

3.  Props for photo opp, all white and pink along the route. Fans could surely visualize Hello Kitty's paw print of approval on those.  There were also boxes from which people could pick a prize, and claim it at the redemption booth after the finish line.  Instant prizes galore.  

4.  Hydration:  water and cold POCARI drink. They did not seem to run out of drinks at every kilometer mark.  I was already at the last wave, and there were more than enough drinks for every one.  Almost all used paper cups ended where they should be - in the trash bins.

5. The finisher's medal is lovely.  It is a standout in my collection of run event medals.

   

Congratulations to the people behind the success of Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017! Hello Kitty fans appreciate your effort in bringing such a big themed event to Manila.  We're excited to hear about a repeat in 2018.  😊😺💓

Leather Care Project: Restoration with Stitching Challenge

We are so glad to have joined the cross-stitching bandwagon back in its heyday, but we wouldn't dare announce the exact year.  Those were the days when every project was a true test of patience and perseverance...and it was, in a way therapeutic.

 

Now we leveled up in stitching, as it becomes an important component of some of our restoration efforts at Leather Care Project.  Stitching becomes more tedious with bags, because we have to deal with hard-to-reach areas (like corners and interior lining).  If we are to open existing stitches to make room for repairs, we need to assess the most optimal section to cut - all these steps are being performed with utmost care; with the primary goal of maintaining or reinforcing the sturdiness of the bag, while being especially mindful of its overall aesthetic value (or appearance). 

 

Here are two of our recent projects that mandated high quality hand stitches. 

 

1.  Gucci small denim bag with soft leather trim and handle - this is a 14-year old bag, and it has been a constant favorite of a client among her extensive collection of designer bags.  This is her usual out-to-lunch bag. It must be sturdy enough to hold a phone, coins and bills, keys, power bank, and some beauty must-haves. 

2.  Coach fabric bag with patent leather trim and straps - the 'before' photo says it all.  All strap edges were badly damaged due to a combination of stress (heavy load) and humidity (from storage).  Good thing our client did not give up on this bag, and brought it to us for repair.  It could have ended up in the trash bin.  We do not have to be hardcore environmentalists to at least attempt in helping our clients save their bags (from destruction).  Now we are looking forward to her OOTD photos with this arm candy.  The repair process that we followed is a green one - we did not use any electrical machine to fix the bag, it was all manual process. 

 

For more information, please visit (and share) our Facebook and Instagram accounts @leathercareproject.  Thank you. 

 

Attention: COACH Lovers

 

Output of our recent Coach cleaning/restoration effort

Coach produces lovely handbags, which never seem to go out of style, regardless of season and location. Through the years, Coach has put together an appealing collection of handbags, season after season, never forgetful of making utilitarian and chic exist on the same plane.  Let's also not forget to emphasize the brand's huge popularity in the Asian market.  

Since Coach bags are very useful, they are no stranger to a gamut of stains and color transfer - especially the fabric ones.  Followers of the Leather Care Project are more than convinced that there is a better way of cleaning their favorite Coach fabric bags.  Forget about dumping it all in the washing machine; a step that compromises not only the leather trims and hardware, but also impacts the overall appearance and quality of Coach bags. We are pleased to share some of the 'before versus after' pieces that we did recently.

Before:  Common issues - dirt, molds, and heavy stains (usually ink, color transfer); other issues - loose stitches, damaged leather edges

Leather Care Project Process: 
1.  Clean and disinfect
2.  Condition leather parts
3.  Fix loose stitches and leather edges
4.  Apply water and stain protector

After:  Coach bags that are clean as new

Extra:  Completed repair of loose leather stitches, intense leather conditioning of the handle

For more information, please visit (and share) our Facebook and Instagram accounts @leathercareproject.  Thank you. 

 

Hello Kitty Run Link Love Together Manila 2017

Hi there, Hello Kitty fans! Are you ready to spread love and have fun with Hello Kitty? After visiting Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, Hello Kitty is (finally) coming to the Philippines through the first ever Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017 happening on October 21, 2017! Let’s have fun with family and friends with the fun run’s theme, “Link Love Together!”

Our beloved Hello Kitty will inspire love and share happiness with everyone in the 5km fun run at the SM By the Bay, SM MOA Complex. To show her excitement to meet all participants, she prepared an exclusive edition Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017 race kit consisting of themed race tee and race bib, with lots of special gifts from sponsors, all in a very cute exclusive Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017 drawstring bag! Everyone who will cross the finish line will also receive a very cute special edition Hello Kitty Run finisher’s medal for their effort!

Hello Kitty herself will meet-and-greet friends and fans at a special stage program during the event! There will also be lots of activities and booths where you can get exclusive and limited edition souvenirs and merchandise.

Early bird tickets has been selling from July 1 until August 15; Standard tickets from August 16 to September 15; and Last minute tickets from September 16 to October 15. Register now at www.hellokittyrunph.com !

Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017 is organized by Tokyo Gets Ltd and Ten:22 Business Solutions in partnership with CHERIFER Syrup, along with its official venue partner, SM By the Bay, official media partners; ETC and 2^nd Avenue, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Business Mirror and Otaku Asia, major partners Pocari Sweat and Crystal Clear, Toy Kingdom, Skin White, Rizal Park Hotel, Golden Phoenix Hotel, Pascual Creamy Delight, Skechers, Devant, and marketing partners Salonpas, Acer, Banana Peel, Fujifilm Instax, Softex and Healthy Innovations. This event is supported by JLOP (Japan’s Ministry of Economy and Industry, Contents Division).

Let’s LINK LOVE TOGETHER at HELLO KITTY RUN MANILA 2017!

Sharing some photos and a video of happy participants from the past Hello Kitty Run events. 

Leather care project: Bally patent handbag and patent leather 101

A patent leather handbag is a lovely thing.  If you happen to own one, your patent handbag is your go-to bag for the rainy season.  It's fabulous, glossy exterior seems to repel rain without much effort.  However, during prolonged season of high humidity, especially if you live in the tropics, the patent develops an undesirable, sticky feel.  Patent leather does not hold an excellent track record when dealing with heat and humidity. 

By the way, patent also goes by the term 'vernis'.  

A highly humid environment can make the patent glue melt, resulting to overall stickiness of the leather.  Yes, this thing happens.  When it does, your precious handbag becomes  more susceptible to color transfer from other bags or fabrics; or you may also find the patent bag staining other bags in your closet.  In a scenario like this, prevention is far better than cure.  

Here are some basic tips on how to take care of your patent handbags; also applicable to patent shoes:

1.  Air your patent bag regularly.  Don't just lock it in your closet for months.  Chances are, if you have so many bags, there is a tendency that you will forget about the bags that are silently aging in your closet.

2.  Wipe your handbag clean with a soft cotton cloth.  An old cotton t-shirt can also do the trick.  Make sure your bag is dry before you keep it in the dust bag.

3.  Store your bag in a dust bag. No dust bag? A soft pillow case may also double as a dust bag.

4.  To retain the shape of your bag, use a stuffer when storing your bag. 

5.  Avoid spilling any form of solvent on your bag.  Solvent may cause the color to bleed. 

6.  When the patent becomes sticky, refer to Tip # 2, and then store your bag in a cool, dry place, and observe if the stickiness will disappear.  

7.  If you must apply a leather cleaner on your patent handbag; cleaner must be intended for patent or vernis.  DO test it first on a hidden portion of your bag, before you apply it to the entire bag. 

Here is one of my recently completed leather care projects, featuring a Bally patent handbag. 

BEFORE:  very sticky patent; discoloration - from white to yellow, ink stains and color transfer.  After cleaning the bag, the discoloration and most of the stains were deemed permanent.  

PROCESS:  clean, disinfect, recolor

OUTPUT:  patent with deep red hue

For more before-and-after photos, visit our Facebook and Instagram pages @leathercareproject.  

Powerman Philippines Empowers the Filipino Duathlete

As the sport of duathlon continues to grow in the Philippines, and around the world, Filipino duathletes get a chance to compete against the best of the best when they test their mettle at the 2017 Powerman Philippines Asian Championships presented by Summit Drinking Water on October 8 at Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. 

This is a highly anticipated event not only for seasoned duathletes, but also for athletes who are in the process of transitioning to duathlon and multi-sports.  If you have been wanting to do that ultimate road test after weeks or months of training, then Powerman Duathlon is an event that you should not miss.  

Now on its third year, the F&F International Events Group prides itself with being given the honor this year’s Asian Championships.  Aside from promoting duathlons as a lifestyle, as a sport, and as an event, the main thrust for 2017 is to push the boundaries of the Filipino Duathlete.  The 2017 Powerman Philippines Asian Duathlon Championships Presented by Summit Drinking Water is set to host a minimum of 800 local and foreign participants from all around the world, including elite athletes from US, Europe, Australia and Asia Pacific.

Powerman Duathlon Asian Championship 2017 also highlights the innate strength in running and cycling of the Filipino duathlete.  "It's all about investing in the Filipino duathlete's potential, pushing their boundaries, and expanding their competitive horizons, with the ultimate goal of sending our top Filipino duathlete to the 2019 Powerman World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland,"  shared by Coach Kaye Lopez, Powerman Philippines' General Manager. 

The race features various categories that will traverse Clark and SCTEx: 

*  Powerman Classic:  10km run, 60km bike, 10km run

* Powerman Short: 5km, 30km, 5km run 

* Powerteens: 5km run, 30km bike, 5km run 

The Clark Freeport Zone, which is about 37 miles northwest of Metro Manila and located in the heart of the culture-rich Central Luzon, proves to be the perfect race venue, with its highly-improved road network and its interesting scenery of graceful old homes with large verandas and historical buildings. Traveling to the venue is also seamless for both local and foreign guests as it is easily accessible via land or air travel.

The 2017 Powerman Philippines Asian Championships Presented by Summit Drinking Water will serve as a qualifying event for the Powerman World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland. The race is also supported by Clark Freeport Zone and SCTEx as the Official Venue Partner, Cobra Energy Drink ad Official Energy Drink, Columbia as Official Apparel Partner, Activehealth as Official Sports Nutrition Partner, Garmin as Official Timing Partner, Seafood Island Restaurant, Hammer Nutrition, Dan’s Endurance, 2xU, and Skechers Performance.

For more details, registration and updates visit the event’s official website, www.powerman.ph and subscribe to the official social media accounts in Facebook, Instagram and Twitter through @PowermanPH with official hashtags #NOMANNOPOWER #POWERMANPHPRESENTEDBYSUMMIT.

Leather care project: Tory Burch patent sneakers

You found a perfect pair of sneakers for an overcast kind of weather. The purchase was justified.  It was not a splurge, but a good buy because its style is versatile.  You can even wear it to complete your smart casual ensembles. It's a pair of Tory Burch patent sneakers. ❤😍👌

➤  Soft patent leather that wicks away water (good for drizzles, but not for torrential rain)
➤  White rubber sole - a crowd favorite for a few (fashion) seasons now
➤  Made for walking; won't hurt your feet - a quality that Tory Burch shoes are known for 

A few weeks later, you found out that... 

➤  Its white sole already turned grey because of dust and dirt.  No matter how you tried cleaning it at home, the stain won't disappear.  You couldn't wash it clean and tumble dry, because the shoes are partly made of leather.  😲😨😢

➤  So you brought the pair to two of the bigger handbag/shoe cleaning chains in the city.  They won't accept your shoes for cleaning - they just told you, "the materials tend to get filthy just like that.  There's nothing we can do about it." 

Then you just asked yourself: 1) why?; 2) what now?  

The solution... 

This is not a close-ended article.  In fact, we want to share there is hope for this type of shoes - we can clean and disinfect both leather and rubber to (help) add more mileage to this posh pair.  Here are the "before-and-after" photos straight out of our leather care project studio. ❤😍👌

BEFORE:  Leather is still in good condition, but the rubber sole showed dirt and deep stains.

WORK-IN-PROGRESS:  Clean and disinfect shoes by part.  Rubber and leather must be cleaned separately. 

AFTER:  More mileage ahead!  

For more information, visit us at Facebook - Leather Care Project, or at Instagram: @leathercareproject

Leather care project: make this ALDO pair great again!

Just like any other quality products, genuine leather shoes are meant to stand seasons of use (and abuse) given the right care.  It's rather common that the leather remains intact, while the rest of the shoes start to show some wear-and-tear.  We simply love wearing a pair of soft leather shoes, because they are so comfy and classically stylish.

The thing with soft leather is that, it tends to be sensitive.  It easily absorbs dirt and water.  It is also prone to scratching - but we still love it anyway because of its versatility and usefulness. There is no stopping that wear-and-tear process, but we can extend its useful life through proper cleaning and use of care products.  

Here is a pair of (very) soft leather Aldo shoes, originally in cognac.  This is the type that you would love bringing or wearing while traveling - and you could only wish to extend its 'useful life'. In hindsight, it might even make you think about buying two pairs next time you see something very close to it, if not better.  

Leather care project's objective:  make this Aldo pair great again!  😊

Before: stained, faded, dry leather.  It won't help you achieve that over-all polished look you've always wanted.

Process:  

1.  Clean using the right products and applicator for this type of leather - interior and exterior.

2.  Disinfect

3.  Condition

4.  Waterproof

5.  Shine 

6.  Store properly 

Tips: 

➤  Air your shoes before storing it, to keep molds and odor-causing germs at bay.  

➤ Think twice before applying dye or paint on sensitive leather.  This could be the fastest way to achieve your goal, but it may cause the leather to crack sooner.  

After:  objective achieved!  😊❤👍

For more information, visit us on Facebook - Leather Care Project.  

Hello Kitty Run Manila 2017

Hello Kitty Run is coming to Manila this year!  Save the date - October 21, 2017.  Details will be announced soon.  For now, enjoy this video, and share the excitement with your family and friends.  😻

(Note:  This video is best accessed through Google Chrome.)

Performing arts at its finest: Cirque du Soleil TORUK - The First Flight

Photo: Jesse Faatz Costumes: Kym Barrett  © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

June 23, 2017 marked the Asian premiere of Cirque du Soleil TORUK - The First Flight at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines.  

In terms of giving Cirque du Soleil a warm welcome, Manila did not disappoint.  Gates opened as early as 6 pm, and there was already a big crowd socializing at the venue about an hour or so before the show.  A couple of TORUK artists were already in their full Na'vi costumes, as part of the meet-and-greet setup.  For the audience, it gave us the opportunity to appreciate up-close all the creativity that went into the Na'vi make up and costumes.  

Days before the premiere, I was doing some occasional countdown by the day or by the hour.  I was really excited to 'be in the show'.  I'm not one of the artists, but the way the stage is set-up provided for the audience to immerse themselves in the show. Cirque du Soleil also introduced a mobile app, so the audience can participate in some parts of the show through their mobile phones.  It is beyond the visual treat that is always expected of Cirque du Soleil.  TORUK is a one-of-a-kind by-product of James Cameron's and Cirque du Soleil's artistic collaboration.    

➣ TORUK is inspired by James Cameron's hit film AVATAR.  

➣ Cirque du Soleil conceptualized TORUK as a grand fusion of theater, cinema, and acrobatics.  (Just imagine two of the finest artistic visionaries of our time - Cirque du Soleil and James Cameron collaborating).

Directors Michel Limieux and Victor Pilon created the show as a prequel to “Avatar,” set thousands of years before. The story centers on two Omaticaya boys Ralu and Entu who went on a quest to collect a talisman from each of the five Na'vi clans of Pandora.  Those five talismans would allow them to tame the mighty TORUK, and save the Tree of Souls and the rest of Pandora from an impending catastrophe.  Narrated by a "Na'vi Storyteller", TORUK is a story about unifying five Na'vi clans to work on a greater, common goal - and highlighting their symbiotic connection to their community and with nature.  The Na'vi clans' highest regard for nature stems from from their belief that all living things are interconnected.  Everyone could relate to this as we become more aware of how much we owe nature.   I must say that bringing young kids to this show is a way of teaching them about the benefits of working together to achieve even the most difficult tasks, and that we must respect nature.  This is a great show for the entire family.  You can find more about the story of TORUK here. 

Here are some fantastic photos from Cirque du Soleil TORUK - The First Flight:

Photo: Errisson Lawrence Costumes: Kym Barrett  © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

Photo: Youssef Shoufan Costumes: Kym Barrett  © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

Photo: Errisson Lawrence Costumes: Kym Barrett  © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

Photo: Youssef Shoufan Costumes: Kym Barrett  © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

Photo: Errisson Lawrence Costumes: Kym Barrett  © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

Photo: Errisson Lawrence Costumes: Kym Barrett  © 2015 Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil TORUK in one statement:  performing arts at its finest.  

Cirque du Soleil TORUK - The First Flight runs from June 23 - July 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.  Book your tickets now (before all tickets sell out) through smtickets.com.