Filipino fashion designer and business mogul Chynna Mamawal unveiled Casa, her casual, ready-to-wear line last 11 December at Isetann Recto.
Targeting the Gen-Zs and young professionals from both sexes, Mamawal's line features affordable athleisure pieces such as casual tops, hoodies, sweatpants, and jeans. Other offerings from this collection include loungewear, casual dresses, and coordinates.
Known for her bespoke pieces and custom one-offs worn by Pia Wurtzbach, Lovi Poe, Ivana Alawi, among others, and pieces featured in Harper's Bazaar Vietnam, Mamawal ventured in retail, an idea she hatched during the pandemic in an effort to retain and help her employees eke out a living.
"Kasi at the end of the day, tayo tayo lang din naman yung magtutulungan. So, every piece you buy from Casa, malaking tulong yun. Marami tayong natutulungan, from the sewers, to the packaging, lahat ng suppliers ng fabrics, lahat ng suppliers ng plastics and everything. Yun yung isang reason why I opened it kasi I really didn't want to close my stores kasi syempre marami tayong employees, maraming staff under me (At the end of the day, it's only us that can help each other. So, every piece you buy from Casa will be a big help already. We can help a lot of people, from the sewers, to the packaging, the fabric suppliers, plastic suppliers and everything. That's one pf the reasons why I opened [Casa] because I really didn't want to close my stores because we have a lot of employees, I have a lot of staff under me)," she said
During the press conference at the opening, clad in a Casa halter trapeze mini dress in 2023's color of the year, Viva Magenta and basil green Zara ankle strap heels, the 29-year-old designer explained why Isetann Recto was where she decided to open her first store.
"I think the market for Casa is perfect here because it's in the middle. It's in the heart of Manila and it's in the middle of the university belt. Students — college, high school, grade school
— are perfect for our brand. At the same time, I studied in San Beda Manila so I'm very familiar with the market here," she said.
She also shared her observation on Filipinos being more inclined to purchase western-made products and how she plans to educate the market; that proudly Filipino made products can stand toe-to-toe with the former's fast fashion offerings.
She added: "I think it's about time that Filipinos appreciate Filipino-made products. I want my body of work to be defined by my ability to conquer what could be, and my fearless drive to create, no matter what the canvas is or what it looks like."
The designer is poised to open 59 more stores nationwide within the next two years, particularly in SM branches where she once held the position of head of retail, working directly under Teresita Sy-Coson. Eventually, she aims to share her collection internationally.