‘Agos Muni X Urbanic30’ Collaboration
U. How and when did you come together for this partnership with Urbanic 30?
M. I first received a request from Urbanic 30, regarding the flower arrangement last May. It was such a pleasure working with the team. After the first project was done, the team asked me for a collaboration and I said ‘Yes’ without hesitation. It was something I had always dreamed of.
U. Is there any particular collection that you like the most? How do you style it in your daily life?
M. Yes, and it’s the Agos Muni Lettering Shirt. It is perfect for summer, always reminding me of the summer looks when I was in the Philippines. I love seeing my friends wearing it in their own way. My go-to look is when I wear it with a tank top underneath it.
U. The Collaboration started with the flower arrangements in New York along with the photoshoot. What inspiration does the city bring to you, and how would you describe what New York means to you?
M. New York is my home, it felt that way ever since I moved here in 2011. The city is full of surprises and people from various backgrounds and cultures. I get my inspiration from them.
U. Could you tell us about the concept of the flowers in the collaboration? How did you come up with the flower arrangement?
M. For this collaboration with Urbanic 30, I focused on classic and timeless flowers. I wanted to express different sides of myself through two different arrangements. Red roses show my love for colors and the liveliness they bring, and white lilies represent the opposite—minimal and restrained.
U. The Gohar sisters from Gohar World also participated in the photoshoot for the collaboration. Was there any episode that was memorable?
M. Spending time with the Gohar sisters is one of the important parts of my time in New York. The sisters taught me well, and I learned a lot from them. They also welcomed me into their world with such grace. They are the best hostesses.
During the shoot, we photographed Nadia and Laila separately in their own elements. My favorite moment with Nadia was photographing her in the Upper East Side, which is her neighborhood. I loved spending the morning catching up at the park by her apartment—very quiet and serene in such a busy city.
With Laila, we met at the Union Square Market, where she usually goes to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for her studio. We were able to meet her son, Paz, and her father, Mohamed, at the market. Having three generations of Gohars together felt very special. We then photographed Laila working at the market.
U. What were some of the challenges you faced during the collaboration?
M. The main challenge I often face is knowing when to stop designing. Initially, the designs I created for the collection were a bit more complex and ornate. However, thanks to the feedback from the Urbanic 30 team, I was able to simplify them. In the end, we created a wonderful result that harmonized my aesthetics with those of Urbanic 30.
U. Some products feature the phrase ‘Musings in a Vessel’, described as a slogan representing Agos Muni. What does this phrase mean to you?
M. The phrase talks about how I approach the process of making arrangements. To me, the act of placing flowers in a vase is like a trail of thoughts, deciding where each stem goes. It’s like putting your thoughts into a vessel. 'Musings' is also one of my favorite words because it entails curiosity.
