One print at a time

March is Women’s Month. It’s that time of the year where women are specially celebrated all over the world from different ages, places and industries. These accomplished individuals are celebrated for their contribution to community, society, industry, country and even the world. They are leaders, game changers, trendsetters, discoverers and, most importantly, serve as an inspiration to many.

One of the unsung heroes we celebrate this month are two sisters and their mother who are behind the brand Millie Monday. Founded by sisters Margot C. Prado and Mariel C. Ching, with their mother Millie Calaquian, Millie Monday was sort of a new spin off their mother’s company, Primex Printers — established by their late father in 1979 — Millie Monday is a new chapter that honors their family’s heritage while embracing fresh beginnings. Their name reflects this spirit: Millie, the family matriarch and pillar of strength; and Monday, symbolizing a new start and endless possibilities.

Millie Monday is all about bringing art, functionality and joy into everyday spaces. They have successfully married art and print technology to create beautifully crafted products that brighten homes, offices and personal spaces. But beyond their vibrant prints and practical pieces lies a story of legacy, passion and the power of collaboration.

Anchored in the printing industry, Millie says, “Print plays an important role in Millie Monday. It is in our DNA because our core business is actually printing.” Transitioning from corporate printing to retail meant having a lot of challenges. From mastering product development and pricing to navigating branding, sales channels and marketing, the founders had to learn and adapt quickly. “It was challenging because everything in retail was new to us so we had to learn and teach ourselves as quickly as possible,” Millie added. But with passion and perseverance, their brand was meant to thrive.

In 2022, Millie Monday was invited to showcase their products at Kultura’s first Filipino Design Studio. Since then, this opportunity opened doors to a long-term partnership, with their products now available in four Kultura branches: Podium, SM Makati, SM Aura and Mactan. Furthermore, this collab has greatly impacted the company which created more jobs and provided stability and growth for their 125 employees. Currently, they contribute to the SM Green Finds (eco-friendly items sustainably sourced, made from and of natural materials and support local communities)ecosystem, of providing Filipinos access to eco-friendly products through Kultura, an SM retail affiliate also available in SM Store. Through this green retail initiative, SM Store fuels and scales the livelihood of women-led enterprise.

Millie Monday’s vision continues to evolve with a dream to share their uniquely Filipino creations with the world. “We hope to tap new local talents and collaborate with them. Our ultimate dream is to be able to distribute globally,” Millie said. This inspiring and empowering women-led enterprise exemplifies that with passion, perseverance and a clear sense of purpose, women can transform their dreams into thriving businesses—one print at a time.