YOU can?t throw a frisbee inside The Collective without hitting a slumming model, a graphic designer, a DJ, a streetwear-savvy fashionista or a fixie-riding hipster.

At least, it seems that way on some nights.

Located in an obscure corner of Makati, this compact warren of clothing boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, bars and cafes and similar quirky enterprises has built up a considerable word-of-mouth and Internet buzz since it opened a scant few months ago.

A friend once described the place as ?like Cubao-X, except it?s not in, like, QC.?

This is not the place to go into the yawning divide between Makati and QC subcultures. Suffice it to say that The Collective exudes the same arty, cutting-edge po-mo urban vibe that makes Cubao-X such a hipster magnet.

?We like it because it has that whole independent ?art? feel,? says Nick Santiago, one of the owners of Crazy Eddie?s, a men?s clothing store in The Collective that specializes in hard-to-find streetwear and accessories.

?Everyone here is an independent owner of their own business so it has that small-town feel ? everybody knows everybody else,? adds Santiago. ?We give off a marketplace feel that?s not like a mall, but more like a fairground where everybody can just hang out. That kind of vibe, merged with some good stores, good concepts and good products, makes it a destination, a place where people can go. What?s cool about this place is, it?s in Makati but it?s not in the commercial business district, so it pulls in a lot of people who want to get away from that.?

Like Santiago, many of the stallholders in The Collective are young, first-time entrepreneurs pursuing passion projects, from artisanal, organic food products (Ritual) to skateboarding (Longboards Manila), designer toys and records (Vinyl On Vinyl) to repurposed bicycles and screen printing (Hocus), tattooing (Vice) to out-there art (Outer Space).

Located on 7274 Malugay St. in San Antonio Village, The Collective occupies what used to be an auto accessories hub. Like the Cubao Shoe Expo before the advent of Cubao-X, the place had been dead, business-wise, for a long time. But the emergence of The Collective seems to have injected a much-needed shot of adrenaline (and capital) into the area.

Indeed, experiments like Cubao-X and The Collective present one model for what many urban planners have been advocating for a long while now ? repurposing existing urban spaces for a more livable city.

Start with reasonable rent, essential for first-time entrepreneurs who are short on capital but big on ideas.

Add a little diversity ? people don?t live on fashion alone, they needs food, caffeine, and a little entertainment. The Collective has the Wabi-Sabi Noodle House, a vegetarian ramen place, Wingman Burgers and the Happy Palace, a Mongolian barbecue and dimsum place. One of its top draws is indie music hotspot B-Side bar.

A little promotion goes a long way, and regular events can?t hurt. Recently, cult poster princess Tara McPherson put in an in-store appearance at Vinyl On Vinyl, an urban art gallery, designer toy and record store owned by makeup artist Pia Reyes and race car driver/model Gaby de la Merced. It pulled in fans from all over the metro and beyond, helping put The Collective on the happening map.

Let everything simmer and let the place develop its own unique character. Finally, wait for the people to come.

?At this point it?s still very niche,? says Paolo Jose Vasquez, proprietor of Longboards Manila, whose name is self-explanatory. ?I wouldn?t describe it as mainstream at all. But it?s getting there.?

In keeping with the place?s laid-back vibe, hours seem to be flexible. Most of the stores have set hours, but things at The Collective seldom get going until mid-afternoon. But depending on whether there?s an event or who?s playing at the B-Side, stores may stay open until after midnight.

?The Collective is a melting pot for everyone who enjoys art,? says Carlo Reyes, curator for Vinyl On Vinyl. ?What?s nice about it is that we help each other out. Lahat ng pumapasok dito pantay-pantay. (All comers are regarded as equals). The president of a company can come in and talk about his hobbies with a regular guy.?

There?s definitely some synergy going on at The Collective.

?It?s definitely a community of people,? says Santiago. ?Just one store wouldn?t be successful, but combine 24 units into one big thing and I think it?s going to be successful.? ?