MANILA, Philippines— Slowly, in response to the unprecedented global pause that drastically changed the way we do things since last year, we have seen numerous initiatives put to the fore anchored heavily on bridging gaps and building communities, all with the hope of alleviating the crippling impact felt by individuals and enterprises across industries throughout the world because of the continuing pandemic.
Putting contemporary local goods and creative brands front and center of its mission, 773 Collective, has since been born as an offshoot of a casual discussion among friends with Harvey Michael Alumisin of HMA 773, a four-storey commercial mixed-use building in Makati, at the helm. This thought then transformed the space into a creative mecca of Filipino brands with exclusive pieces made and handpicked for its discerning consumer base.
Images courtesy of 773 Collective
“I’ve always wanted to do something in retail, but given the current situation where in-person events are limited, I thought ‘How can I give customers a safe retail experience and at the same time make local brands shine?’ Eventually the concept of 773 Collective just made sense,” Alumisin tells Rank Magazine.
Setting this in motion, the pop-up commenced in June 2021, championing a myriad of brands zooming in on various lifestyle aspects from jewelry, clothing, homeware, to art, building a unique, first-of-its-kind retail experience.
Alumisin furthers, “We focus on local brands who make quality, eye-catching pieces that can strike a conversation. We try to have a limit of 1-2 brands in each lifestyle aspect so the product offering is more focused and less overwhelming for the consumer. In addition, the brands we partner with do exclusive or one-of-a-kind pieces for 773 Collective—that way, consumers can expect something fresh from our retailers.”
Images courtesy of 773 Collective
Collective v.2 (version 2), is slated to open its pop-up starting November 12 to 14, with in-store shopping open between 10 am to 5 pm. The reservation platform will then be readily-available on November 5 with slots limited to four to six shoppers, highlighting the value of safety among its community of buyers while continuing its mission to give social media-heavy brands a physical space to showcase their goods.
In collecting brands to join in its roster for the initiative, Alumisin shares, “Since I handle operations in my day job, executing a concept has somewhat surprisingly been interesting and flawless. Although, I always say that retail is a different ball-game. However, seeing the consumer movement and how things work, were so unique and interesting [to] me.”
From flatware with intricate details, bags, prints, candles, to vintage clothing inspired by ‘really fashionable lolos and lolas, here are the ten retailers carefully-curated for the Collective’s upcoming second trunk show:
Aarde (flatware)
Ola Haus (bags)
By Ersatz (vintage clothing)
Everywhere We Shoot (prints)
Gabbie Sarenas (clothing)
Lily Jewelry (jewelry)
Mercedes Olondriz (rugs and murals)
Nooke (homeware)
Tinni Garbes (clothing)
LEV (candles)
On the ever-evolving sense of artistry found among local businesses, Alumisin highlights, “Brands and artists have been creating pieces in response to the pandemic. They are either inspired by the world that we miss pre-pandemic or their surroundings at home. It can be a memory of an event, their favorite travel destination, friends they miss, or music they listen to during lockdown.”
He furthers, “Having been at home for most of the time, artists continuously find inspiration and innovation from whatever resources they have on-hand. We even have artists who started creating handmade pieces because of the limitations of lockdown. I believe this is the type of creativity you can expect from the second Collective.”
With the success of the first trunk show of the Collective, the upcoming pop-up has extended its availability to consumers for a third day, giving due focus and value to its line-up of retailers showcasing a vast variety of lifestyle aspects.
“HMA 773 is ultimately a collaborative ground where distinct businesses and establishments can take root. 773 Collective creates a community of like-minded consumers and provides a space for brands and artists to fully showcase their exclusive pieces to their intended persona. Overall, it is an opportunity for partnership and collaboration for everyone,” Alumisin concludes.
For more details of the 773 Collective, along with reservation processes, visit their official page on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/773collective/