MANILA – October 10, 2013 – Filipino apparel brands Bayo and UnicaHija have entered into an agreement to merge their businesses, in a strategic bid to increase operational efficiency, accelerate customer and product expansion, and price their offers more competitively for the Philippine market.
Even with the merger, the two brands will maintain their independent line-ups and retail networks to cater to different segments of the market, the brands said in a press release.
< src="/global//UserFiles/Bayo. " width="200" height="200" hspace="5" align="right" alt="" />“Bayo caters to the multi-faceted Filipina who is constantly on the go but still wants to be effortlessly stylish. It is a multi-awarded brand offering fashionable yet timeless apparel, footwear, accessories such as bags and jewelry, as well as other merchandise for women. We have also recently expanded into children’s wear, enabling our customers to pass on their love of Bayo to a new generation,” said Pinky Estrebillo, General Manager of Bayo.
Bayo will still be available in over 50 branches across the Philippines. Estrebillo said customers will continue to enjoy quality merchandise and service, reasonable pricing, and a world-class shopping experience.
“We at Bayo deliver all these while being committed to fair labor practices for all employees and good business relations with all stake holders.”
Meanwhile, Cristy Basa, General Manager of UnicaHija said the brand caters to young Filipinas who are looking for outfits with contemporary silhouettes, vibrant colors, and trendy designs at accessible price points.
“Our style objective is to fulfill the need of today’s generation of modern women who are more self- assured and expressive in dressing up. With UnicaHija, they find that they can be fun, sweet, and feminine, while being chic, edgy, and confident at the same time," she said. UnicaHija can be found in 15 boutiques and over 60 department stores across the country.
Together with this merger, Bayo and UnicaHija announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership with Filipino clothing merchandise provider Power Fashion Inc., who will support their demand for ready-to-wear fashion for women.
< src="/global//UserFiles/UnicaHija. " width="200" height="107" hspace="5" align="left" alt="" />Power Fashion Inc. will be in charge of accrediting local subcontractors to support the two brands. “We will use our vast experience to increase manufacturing efficiency of our subcontractors so that we can produce high quality ready-to-wear clothes that can compete with global brands,” said Leo Lagon, CEO of Power Fashion Inc.
Through the partnership, Bayo and UnicaHija intend to enhance the speed of material development and production for both brands, allowing them to concentrate on their core retail business without having to contend with issues of production management.
Meanwhile, the long-term supply base generated by this partnership will allow Power Fashion Inc. to expand its current production unit, investing in more factory space and generating more employment. It currently has an independent garments factory in Rizal, which employs about 400 workers.
According to the release, this strategic partnership is a deliberate and conscious move for all parties to invest in Philippine manufacturing, which is a boon to the local economy. “The expansion of the manufacturing plants and the improvement of the quality of work by the subcontractors would surely benefit the labor sector. This will show the partners’ confidence in the local economy, going against current industry trend to
source merchandise made from other countries,” Lagon said.
“The partners believe that this decision to expand its local presence is not only more reliable and efficient but will also allow them to better respond to the Philippine market.”
