A woman of many facets is probably just one way of describing Josie Natori, fashion designer, art patroness-collector-mover, pianist and entrepreneur. The epitome of world-class talent, she has given the Filipina a distinct luster recognizable from thousands of miles away, a cause for her acclamation and, most importantly, the respect of her peers and the rest of humanity.

Starting out in global finance and then moving to fashion and designing glamorous lingerie and boudoir apparel of distinct, sophisticated, bold and artistic prints, Josie has shown the world not only what the Filipina talent can create, but also what she can sell to the discriminating world. Not only has she given fashionable women the loose, comfortable and relaxing yet alluring Oriental silhouette, but also the finest in Filipiniana embroidery.

Josie, as of press time, is home in the Philippines to celebrate her mother "Nanay" Angelita Cruz's 99th birthday. She is also in Manila for her regular visits to her Philippine workshop, a testament to her belief in Filipino craftsmanship and efficiency, along with promoting her current and forthcoming international collections, as well as her creations that are now on display at the Rustan's Department Stores that carry her best-selling line, a favorite of Manila's elegant women.

In a recent interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, Josie shifted from one topic to another, allowing us a glimpse into the life of an international icon whose varied interests have given her more roles than any other woman could take on. Yet, what she has proven is that the Filipina can — and that it is possible to be versatile in one's passions and still succeed at each.

A November gala  

Josie may travel back and forth but in the coming days, she will have her hands full overseeing the preparations for the November gala of the Asian Cultural Council — of which she is the chair.

"The Asian Cultural Council is 60 years old this year," she said with the conviction of someone proud of the milestone that the institution has reached.

Her journey with the ACC began when "its chair, Elizabeth McCormack, who was the dean of students when I started college in Manhattanville, asked me to join the organization. I was then on the board of the Asian Society. I agreed because the ACC is more concentrated on arts and culture, while the Asian Society is a much bigger organization that focuses on policy.

"So, I decided it would be better for me to spend my time in a foundation that specializes in arts and culture. I have been with the ACC for the last 25 years and it has been a wonderful learning and working experience.

"In many ways, it has put me in touch with my heritage and allowed me to learn about Asian arts and culture which I really didn't know. Also, it's been a way of expanding my knowledge of the Asian heritage that we all have."

Josie takes inspiration from "our very engaged and robust board. A number of them are from the Rockefeller family but our board has expanded and represents various significant sectors from our chapters in Thailand, Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Manila.

"Our next board meeting will be in Manila in November when we celebrate the ACC's 60th anniversary. We are looking forward to welcoming our trustees to Manila, especially with the First Lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos, who was on the board of the Philippine organization, as our chairman emeritus in the Philippines.

She zeroed in on what she considers the essential strategy of the organization. "It's about increasing the ability to give more grants and affect more of the artists and scholars out there, who want to pursue and advance their knowledge of Asian arts and culture. Not just Asians but also Americans who have that interest in culture. Hopefully, we can encourage and inspire the titans in the Philippines to contribute as ACC impacts so many deserving Filipino artists who need the break to be able to advance. It would be nice for them to have an international exposure."

The dragon in Natori

Shifting gears, and just as animatedly, Josie explained how the dragon became ubiquitous in many Natori products. "That's because of the East/West aesthetic of the brand, which covers a lot of patterns, whether it's Japanese or Chinese and all that.

"You know, I have quite a collection of artifacts and antique textiles that I have been keeping for almost 55 years. That has been the source of the inspiration for a lot of the patterns, colors, embellishments and things that I've acquired from flea markets and dealers all around the world from my travels."

Josie admitted to being a shopaholic. She related, "The first thing I want to know when I arrive in a new destination is where the flea market is, where I can buy things.

"And so, you see the dragon is shared by many cultures. You see that in many artifacts because it's very symbolic. It represents strength and power, whether it's Japanese, Chinese and all that. Inevitably, it's been a part through the decades of Natori. The dragon is synonymous with us.

"People, for example, buy the dragon earring. Then, there's the dragon embroidery couture. Even in our home, the dragon is a pattern on the bed covers and throw pillows. Even the pajama pattern, the prints or even our candle. For 15 years, we have had it etched on our products."

Refined Filipinos

While she has traveled and dealt with craftsmen all over the world, she takes exception to the Filipino craftsman being special, unique and excellent. "I really believe that there are people who specialize in certain crafts like embroidery. I think there's real love in doing that. They possess the skill set and their hands are very fine.

"I do believe we are very refined. Filipinos are very refined. I think there's something about our work that makes them special and distinct, such as the details. I do believe our embroidery is more refined and more sophisticated in terms of craftsmanship."

Handcrafted accessories

Undoubtedly the best ambassador for the Natori brand, she stressed its various merits, citing that "they're very special. I mean, it's handcrafted. It's different. It's all hand-done. These are the fashion accessories of Natori. And they're all done in Bulacan.

"We make fashion accessories with corn, wood or brass. We also have scarves. The difference is in the detail, the embellishment. The embroideries make them different. Everything that we do has to reflect the brand, whether they are slippers, shoes, scarves or jewelry. Then the fine jewelry, it has to reflect the East/West sensibility always. That's what gives us a point of view, a distinction. If you look at Natori, it's distinct because of that East/West sensibility. Whether it's a fashion jewelry or a fine jewelry with diamonds, the shape, the details have the East/West sensibility. That's what is reflected in everything that we do."

Son Kenneth for her boss

While "being hands-on when it comes to design," she clarified, "it is very much Kenneth, my son, who has been very instrumental in building the business since 2006. It's almost 17 years. He built our website, our e-commerce business, which is a very important part of the business today. He had a lot to do with building the infrastructure, the team and the marketing.

"Actually, being the president, he is my boss now. It's important that the company really has to evolve to be relevant to the next generation. It has to keep moving, expanding and evolving. So, that's really Kenneth.

"Of our team, a lot of them are very young — in their 30s, which is important. We've been around, we're very proud to be private still and independent for 46 years and family-owned. There are not too many companies like ours. It's very rare that you have brands today that have lasted that long and stayed independent."