WHETHER looking for unique gifts, trendy fashion items, or delightful home decor, it’s always a joy to get a head start on holiday shopping. For those who want to do just that, head on to Soirée by Retail Lab — a fashion, home, and lifestyle shopping affair — happening on November 24 to 26 and December 8 to 10 at The Fifth at Rockwell.

As in previous years, this edition of the Soirée promises to blend the magic of the holidays with a curated selection of unique products, brands, and other offerings.

Featuring more than 170 merchants that offer unique gift items from fashion and home to food and other lifestyle products, this year’s Soirée is made even more special as it will showcase some brands that were founded during the pandemic.

The organizers of Soirée are no stranger to finding unique brands. Rosanna Aranaz and Claud Baron-Paulino are also the same founders of Retail Lab, a multibrand lifestyle store that houses local and homegrown brands with shops at the Powerplant Mall, Estancia, and Circuit Makati. Aranaz and Baron-Paulino pride themselves in creating spaces for brands to introduce their products to the retail market.

“There were so many brands that have been founded in the past three years that we have grown to love and we’re so happy to bring them to you this November for Soirée,” shared Aranaz.

“We were so inspired by all the brands that started during the lockdown. Many of the owners had lost their jobs during the pandemic so they created new ways of earning money by doing what they love like baking and making perfume,” Baron-Paulino added.

Some of the brands that holiday shoppers can look forward to at the Soirée include: Dreambee Books, which makes personalized children’s books that are wonderful gifts for your little ones this holiday season; The Kind Cookie for delicious chocolate chip cookies, which donates a portion of their earnings to various causes; Paint Polish, a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly nail polish brand which allows clients to create their own nail polish shade; Amara Parfum, which specializes in handcrafted perfumes, and; Casa Juan, which offers beautiful Filipino-inspired tableware.

Looking for something vintage? Soirée will also offer unique pieces from Nirvana Collective, a second-hand consignment store that came together to reimagine the ukay-ukay culture in the Philippines.

Another exciting brand to watch out for at the Soirée is Pause Lifestyle for multifunctional scarves and other accessories that also make nice gifts. For those looking for something a little bit more special, there’s Raja Watch Co watches that are made from the finest materials.

Soirée is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Fifth at Rockwell. Access to the venue can be accessed through the elevator in front of Starbucks Reserve of Powerplant Mall.