When Uniqlo will finally open in Manila has been the subject of talk primarily because this Japanese casual brand now...
When Uniqlo announced its entry into the Philippines recently at Hotel InterContinental in Makati, Japanese Embassy officials were in full force—and understandably so.
In an interview with Philippine media, Tadashi Yanai said that while the global economy is sluggish, “in countries like the Philippines, the situation is very good. Asia, for the first time, has the momentum in terms of development. There’s a huge potential.”
A surprising and unlikely partnership was forged at the start of the 2012 French Open when, a few days before he strode into Roland Garros for his first match, top-ranked Novak Djokovic walked a short runway in a press conference to announce his endorsement of the Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo.
Uniqlo’s first Philippine store had yet to open, but Tadashi Yanai already expressed his company’s plan to open 50 stores in the country in the next three years.
How do you define “extreme” in the most explosive, home-building sense of the word? This is how TV5 defines it: For the season-ender of “Extreme Makeover Home Edition Philippines,” or EMHEP as we have come to know it on Twitter, the show is unveiling not just one new home for a deserving family, but 28 houses for an entire community!
Loads of our town’s who’s-who and a dash of who’s-that from business, lifestyle, fashion and entertainment flocked to the launch of Uniqlo at the humongous SM Mall of Asia, where Japan’s No. 1 fashion brand opened its first Manila store.
After a Sunday afternoon at Tsutaya, one of Tokyo’s popular bookstores, my friend and I were about to part ways when he insisted I stop by at Ginza. Ginza on a Sunday is a must-see for any tourist because the roads are closed to transportation, turning the wide swath of concrete into a walking and picnic area for the residents of the city.
Japanese favorite Uniqlo just opened its second store in the Philippines at The Block at SM North Edsa and it was enthusiastically welcomed by Pinoy shoppers (You should go too. They have special opening discounts—jeans are just P590, fleece jackets are just P790). Australian brand Cotton On has also arrived. There are stores in Bonifacio High Street, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Lucky China Town Mall and SM North Edsa and we’re psyched—we love their super-comfy dresses.
The signs are unmistakable: the Philippine economy is on the upswing, with consumer confidence reflecting the surge in terms of an improved bottom line for the country’s biggest retailers compared to last year.
