adidas Launches First Regional Shopee Super Brand Day in the Philippines

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The adidas Super Brand Day rejuvenates the online sports shopping experience with interactive fitness content, games, and exclusive product deals. 

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, collaborates with adidas to launch “Ready for Sport,” its first regional Super Brand Day (SBD) in the Philippines and across five other markets. Through this collaboration, adidas aims to reinvent the online sports shopping experience to reach and engage more mobile-first shoppers. This effort is part of its growth strategy for e-commerce in the region.

More people are working out and shopping from home in this new normal, which has led to a boom in demand for athleisure products and sports gear. The adidas Super Brand Day serves to excite users with a fun and interactive shopping experience on Shopee. For instance, users can participate in sports challenges led by KOLs and celebrities to win prizes and access fitness-related content. As live stream shopping continues to gain prominence among shoppers, adidas will host a free workout session on Shopee Live, where users can score discount vouchers and purchase exclusive adidas products. 

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Sports and athleisure is a growing category as more of our users turn to online shopping for convenience and to get the best deals. We’re excited to partner with adidas in bringing their first Super Brand Day to Shopee, where users can enjoy a more interactive experience when shopping for adidas products. We’re confident that our Super Brand Day campaign’s popularity will boost their online visibility, traffic, and sales. We remain committed to supporting brands in achieving their e-commerce ambitions through our robust suite of brand solutions.”

Starting November 26, Shopee users will get to access three days of special features on Shopee Live, take part in games and activities, and enjoy promotions on the official adidas store. Users can look forward to: 

●       Exclusive adidas originals on Shopee: The adidas Originals Flower Pack for women and Patch Work Pack for men will be available exclusively on the adidas official store on Shopee.

1. adidas ORIGINALS Stan Smith Shoes Women White Sneakers

2. adidas ORIGINALS Superstar Shoes Men White Sneakers
   
   
   
   
   
3. adidas ORIGINALS Superstar Shoes Women White Sneakers
   
   
   

●       Special Promos: Shoppers can also enjoy up to 50% off and a “Buy 3, get an additional 55% off” promo. On November 27-28, users can look forward to discount vouchers up to 15% off. 

●       adidas ‘ReadyforSport’ LIVE workout on Shopee Live: Viewers can join a 20-30 minute workout session led by a qualified instructor. They can enjoy vouchers unlocked at the end of the session as a reward for completing the workout. Shopee Live viewers can also win exclusive adidas originals. All featured adidas products will be available for purchase on their official store on Shopee Mall. 

●       Special adidas edition of Shopee Catch: Users can earn points by playing the in-app game, where they will have to catch adidas merchandise using an adidas sports bag while avoiding bombs. Users can exchange points for Shopee coins and adidas discount vouchers. In addition, players can also win discount vouchers of up to 30% off.

 

Check out the official Shopee store of adidas at https://shopee.ph/adidasph.

Download the Shopee app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region. Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

About adidas

IT IS ALL ABOUT SPORT

This is where we come from, everything we do is rooted in sport. And sport plays an increasingly important role in more and more people’s lives, on and off the field of play. Sport is central to every culture and society and is core to an individual’s health and happiness. Therefore, we believe that, through sport, we have the power to change lives. This core belief guides the way we run our company, how we work with our partners, how we create our products, and how we engage with our consumers.

WE PLAY TO WIN

Athletes will not settle for average. And neither do we. We have a clear mission: To be the best sports company in the world. Every day, we come to work to create and sell the best sports and fitness products in the world, and to offer the best service and consumer experience – and to do it all in a sustainable way. To successfully do that, we focus entirely on our authentic sports brands as they connect and engage with our consumers.

For more information, please visit www.adidas-Group.com.

 

 

Complete Your OOTD Look with These Stylish Yet Comfy Shoes from Skechers at Shopee’s 8.8 Fashion Sale! On July 29, shoppers can enjoy up to 70% off on selected Sketcher items from Shopee

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MANILA, JULY 29, 2020 - Calling all shoe-fanatics! Trying to find the perfect pair of shoes? 

Look no further as Skechers is having their end of season sale on Shopee. On July 29, shoppers can enjoy up to 70% off on selected pairs of shoes at Shopee’s 8.8 Fashion Sale.

Here are eight pairs of kicks shoppers can indulge in: 

Skechers Women’s Footwear You Ambiance 

Make walks comfier with Skechers Women’s You Ambiance. It’s lightweight and has a high-rebound cushioning feature that’s ideal for casual walks. 

Skechers Women Moda Perswayed 

Rock the suede look with Skechers Women Moda Perswayed. It’s designed with a stitching accent and memory foam cushion, perfectly mixing style and comfort. 

Skechers Women Double Up - Duvet 

Strut the streets in retro style with Skechers Women Double-up Duvet. It’s a classic platform-soled sneaker that matches with every look. 

Skechers Women You Footwear 

Make every step count with Skechers Women You. It is a slip-on-footwear with a soft woven mesh providing breathability and comfort. 

Skechers Women You - Transcend 

Combine lifestyle and wellness with Skechers You Transcend. Its soft-woven mesh fabric is stretchable making it easier and comfier for walking. 

Skechers Women Hi-Lites Medal Toes 

Style meets comfort with Skechers Women Hi-Lites. It’s designed with air-cooled memory foam inside for a more comfortable and leisurely walk. 

Skechers Men Go Run 600 

Make morning jogs fun and comfier with Skechers Men Go Run 600. It’s well-cushioned and lightweight that’s ideal for easy to mid-level workouts. 

Skechers Men Go Walk Revolution 

Shape up with Skechers Men Go Walk Revolution. It’s made with comfortable and breathable materials making afternoon strolls and jogs more enjoyable. 

Shopee 8.8 Fashion Sale

The Shopee 8.8 Fashion Sale is happening from July 23 to August 8. Shoppers can look forward to free shipping for selected stores, deals as low as ₱8, mix-and-match bundle deals, and ShopeePay fashion vouchers. Users can also enjoy exclusive offers from leading brands such as Silver Kingdom, Hanford, Maybelline, Primer Group, Penshoppe, and iTrends. 

Visit the Skechers’ official Shopee page via this link https://shopee.ph/skechersph. For more information about the Shopee 8.8 Fashion Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/m/double-double. 

Download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

Small steps that go a long way The SM Store Share Shoes Program brings joy to kids in Isabela

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Shoes are essential in one’s journey through life, especially forstudents. With a pair of good shoes, they will not only be able to fulfill their daily tasks with ease, but it can also inspire them to work hard and take little steps to achieve their dream. 

Students of Diasan Elementary School in Echague, Isabela celebrate after receiving their new pair of shoes.

For most students in the city, a school bus or a stroll down the sidewalk are their usual commute. But for students in the province, it is a different story. 

Samantha, a student from the Diasan Elementary School, shared the hardships she and her classmates face to reach school. 

“Malayo po ang nilalakad namin ng nakapaa. Madulas po ‘pag umuulan at mahirap, maputik ang daan. ‘Yung mga iba po na nakatira sa may bundok, naglalakad po sila ng malayo. (My classmates and I have to walk a long way to get to our school. When the rainy season comes, the slopes become slippery and dangerous which makes it harder for us. The others who live near the mountain walk even farther),” Samantha said. 

Diasan Elementary School is tucked in the middle of the Barangay Diasan, a remote farming community in Isabela with over 600 residents. Students like Samantha have to walk an hour or more on rough terrain to get to and from school and are sometimes forced to skip classes if the river is swollen due to heavy rains.

Despite the challenges, one would be surprised at the great lengths they are willing to go to for their education. The simple gift of a new pair of shoes will allow them to walk to and back to school in comfort and safety. 

These are the kinds of stories that inspired the SM Store’s Share Shoes program to reach to the community to continue its mission of bringing joy - through the gift of shoes that can help make the journey of the students easier and more comfortable. 

Sharing the gift of new shoes

Most students in Diasan have not set foot in a mall before, let alone a shop selling shoes, so as a treat for the kids, employee volunteers from The SM Store, Savemore and SM Foundationtransformed one of the classrooms into a shoe store. They assisted the kids in choosing and fitting their very own shoes from the display of clogs, sneakers, sandals, flats and slip-ons donated by The SM Store MLC Shoes and Bags, and SM’s retail affiliates Crocs and Simply Shoes.

A volunteer washes the feet of one of the kids to teach him the value of proper hygiene. 

Replicating the shopping experience, an employee volunteer from The SM Store Cauayan assists a kid in fitting her new footwear. 

The employee and community volunteers also set up a “Feet Washing Corner” before the shoe fitting to impart the importance of taking care of one’s feet. The kids could not hide their joy as they selected and tried on their new footwear. 

Apart from receiving new shoes, the kids were treated to fun games and groceries from Savemore. The kids even gamely participated in a Zumba dance number led by The SM Store Cauayan employee volunteers. Wearing their new pairs of shoes, the kids enjoyed the activities knowing their feet were comfortable and secure. 

Taking steps to a brighter future

Samantha said that having a pair of shoes is important to protect their feet from injuries.

“Masaya po ako nu’ng nakita ko ‘yung mga kaibigan ko na suot na nila ‘yung sapatos kasi ‘di na sila mahihirapan maglakad ng isang oras papunta ng iskul (I was so happy to see my friends wearing their shoes because now, they won’t have a hard time walking an hour to school),” Samantha said. 

An employee volunteer from The SM Store Cauayan assists a kid in choosing his new pair of shoes. 

Teacher in charge Domenador Mayuyo Jr. shared that for some of the kids, it was their first time to own a pair of shoes, with many of them walking to school wearing slippers or barefoot. 

“It’s the first time for some of our students to receive a pair of shoes. Having a new pair of shoes is like a dream come true for them. It is a blessing for them to receive new pair of shoes that they can use to go to school,” Mayuyo said. 

Through the gift of new shoes, The SM Store hopes to inspire these kids to take those important steps toward achieving their goals. 

A student of Diasan Elementary School walkshome with his new pair of shoes from The SM Store’s Share Shoes Movement. 

Promoting the culture of sharing and purposeful giving

The shoe donation was also accompanied by a medical mission through the partnership of The SM Store with the SM Foundation, Caritas Philippines and the Diocesan Social Action Center of Ilagan. Residents of the community were able to avail of medical and dental consultations, laboratory works, and had X-ray and ECG examinations, and medicines courtesy of the SM Foundation’s Mobile Clinic, all for free.

An employee volunteer and student beneficiaries bond after the program. 

The activity was a part of the SM Share Movement, a program promoting a culture of sharing and purposeful giving among SM shoppers all year long. Since 2015, the SM Share Movement has collected over 1.3 million donations composed of shoes, clothing, books, school kits, disaster kits and toys.

The SM Store’s Share Shoes program encourages its shoppers to donate brand new and pre-loved footwear not just to help kidswalk safely and reach their desired destinations, but to also inspire them to take important steps toward achieving their goals. 

“We would like to thank all the shoppers and our partners who donated and participated in The SM Store’s Share Shoes Movement. This wouldn’t be possible without you. Given the rough terrain and the challenges that these students of Diasan face just to get to their school, the new pair of shoes is a great help to them,” said Cielito Velasquez, Assistant Branch Manager of The SM Store Cauayan. 

One of the classrooms is transformed by SM employee volunteers into a shoe store to give the kids a shopping experience. 

Through the #SMShareMovement Project, the SM Store remains committed to its promise to give back to communities and to be a partner in their development. Through the simple but valuable gift of shoes, they can continue to be a part of Barangay Diasan’s journey as the children take steps toward a brighter future. 

Find out more about the #SMShareMovement’s quarterly donation drives and ways to contribute to upcoming projects, by liking The SM Store Facebook page and by following @TheSMStore on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Mizuno, perfectly balanced for your daily runs - Here's Wave Catalyst 2 and Wave Shadow, for the Squad Run: Road to 42km

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Whether you're running or playing sports, you are always competing, here's a brand that’s on the same quest for perfection. Mizuno offers a wide range of shoes to cater to different types of runners, so you can find the right shoe for your running needs!

Mizuno Philippines launched their featured performance running shoes, the Wave Catalyst 2 and Wave Shadow, for the month of July. 

Last Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at the Mizuno Store in Bonifacio High Street, both shoes were launched together with the Mizuno’s Squad Run: Road to 42km.

The launch was with Mizuno sponsored running coaches, Ige Lopez, Pat Joson and Nhea Barcena with some of their students and together with bloggers and writers attended the said event. 

Brand introduction was led by Karla Bello, the Business Unit Senior Manager and Marketing head for Master Sports - Mizuno while the product presentation was done by Xavier Medina, who is also the Business Unit Senior Manager and Product Specialist. 

Coach Ige Lopez also, shared with the attendees his experience and love for the featured products and lastly, the Squad Run: Road to 42km was discussed by Madeleine Castillo, the Marketing Communications Officer. All attendees got to bring home their own pair of Wave Catalyst 2 and Wave Shadow.

The Wave Catalyst 2 and the Wave Shadow come hand in hand when it comes to performance, one is for support and the other is for neutral, respectively. The Wave Catalyst 2 comes in two colors for men, one color is blue and its updated color way is red while the Wave Shadow only comes in blue.

Performance shoes are built with lower profile midsole dimensions for a more responsive performance ride. The Wave Catalyst 2 is a responsive performance support trainer that aims to keep up with runners who do fast training on a daily basis. It has been redesigned and reborn as a true performance shoe. It has a lowered offset at 10mm, yet the sole design remains the same as its predecessor, with the U4ic midsole material that offers more bounce and durability. 

The upper area as compared to the previous Catalyst has been made into a light weight and highly breathable engineered mesh with the Run Bird logo arch support and soft PU printed overlays straight from the Bio-mimicry concept, which are strategically placed to form the shoe around the arch and heel. It also has a softer collar that lets the ankle area feel more free.

The Wave Shadow is a new model by Mizuno. It is a new revolutionary everyday fast, go to shoe. It is lightweight, highly responsive, and cushioned enough to keep the runner going fast. The Wave Shadow just like the Wave Catalyst 2 are performance trainers but is made for neutral foot types. 

The sole offers a perfect blend of speed and comfort, the 8mm heel drop will give the user that “low-to- ground” feel of a racing shoe while the cushioned supportive midsole provides a running shoe like comfort. The latest updates will not let you down on a fast run. As for its upper, the pursuit of perfection and simplicity has taken the upper fit comfort to new heights. It has an internal toe cap with a one-piece mesh upper construction that provides a seamless fit.

Squad Run: Road to 42km

Mizuno Philippines is having a Squad Run 2! 

In succession to the Squad Run done last year 2017, it is back again for a more intense set of runners. This year’s Squad Run is entitled Squad Run 2018: Road to 42km. It will be a series of one long run per weekend, for 3 whole months, with the end goal of eventually being able to run the marathon distance of 42km. The rationale behind this run is that the runners no longer have to feel lonely during their long runs, because Mizuno has now provided them with a community of long distance runners that are passionate to the sport and is supportive of one another. 

Registration opened on July 11, 2018 via the link  https://www.tinyurl.com/Roadto42-Registration

The coaches who would be leading the said runs are Coach Ige Lopez, Coach Pat Joson, Coach Nhea Barcena and Coach George Vilog. As for where the runs will be held it shall vary per coach. For BGC runs, it will be Coach Ige or Coach Nhea and for the Alabang runs or runs within Tarlac and Cavite, it would be Coach Pat or Coach George, respectively.

For the first session, an assessment run will be held to see who can or cannot keep up with the coaches’ pace and once the official sessions begin, for the first month they will be working on the longest distance that they can do for 1.5 hours, for the second month it would be for 1.5 to 2.5 hours and for the final month they will be working on their longest distance for 3 hours. As mentioned, this Squad Run aims to have its runners eventually run 42 km. Hence, runners who continuously improve and attend would receive prizes from Mizuno. The runners will also be able to do this incrementally, with the help of Milestone runs. These runs are optional runs and will be in the form of OYMor On Your Mark and the Osaka Marathon 2018. Although not all, some runners who joined the squad run will get to be part of the Osaka Marathon. In order to be fair the slots will be raffled out once again here in the Philippines only, to the squad runners and to anyone else who has the means to go to the Osaka Marathon but never got the slot. Raffle entries may be obtained by purchasing Mizuno running shoes at SRP. The raffle duration will be from July 13, 2018 to August 16, 2018.

Always wanted your running shoes comfortable? Then Mizuno's Wave Shadow or Wave Catalyst 2 is for you! Lightweight cushioned, highly responsive. softer collar, highly breathable.

TYLER THE CREATOR x CONVERSE SECOND GOLF LE FLEUR* COLLABORATION

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Several years ago, Tyler the Creator had a vision to launch a line of sneakers to go with his Golf Le Fleur* brand. Converse and Tyler talked about joining creative forces to create unique ideas of ownership and identity and everyone thought it was a good idea. From there, the Golf Le Fleur* collection was born.

Together, Converse and Tyler celebrate freedom of expression and choice through collaborative design made for the street.

Building on the energy and excitement of a successful partnership this past Summer, which celebrated the heritage of culture and sport in the Converse One Star silhouette, Tyler brings his imaginative design, aesthetic and bold spirit to create something entirely new with the Golf Le Fleur* collection.

Tyler, the Creator and Converse unveil the new collection with Tyler’s signature flower design in Kasina, Seoul South Korea’s largest street wear concept shop. 

Tyler’s Golf Le Fleur* signature sneaker is a bold interpretation of the One Star silhouette. 

Incorporating the classic premium suede upper rendered in his unique flower design, it transforms the One Star silhouette into something never before seen. The outsole features Golf Le Fleur* graphics with exaggerated eye stays, comfort collar and tongue, heel counter overlay and Ortholite sock liner for cushioning.

It is available in three colorways: jolly green, solar power and vanilla.

The new Golf Le Fleur* collection is exclusively available at Commonwealth, SM Aura for Php 5,990.00.

For more of Golf Le Fleur* collection, follow www.facebook.com/Converse.PH and @ConversePH on instagram. 

Visit www.converse.com.ph for more Converse designs and styles.

Converse announces collaborative One Star Collection with Engineered Garments

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER DAIKI SUZUKI OF ENGINEERED GARMENTS SET TO RELEASE SPECIAL EDITION CONVERSE ONE STAR 

Converse and Engineered Garments have come together to introduce a new collaborative line of One Star sneakers. Engineered Garments Creative Director and Founder, Daiki Suzuki issues a collection that reflects his personal journey and relationship with Converse and plays on his affinity to reinvent and reengineer, while keeping with the shoe’s iconic look. 

The Converse x Engineered Garments One Star collection is available in four iterations of the classic One Star logo including the Star Chevron, Stars & Bars, and two variations for the customary star. Suzuki recalls a specific era for each style all representing silhouettes of his personal favorites from Converse.

 

The collection is available in four premium leather colorways including Olive, Navy, White, and Black. Aligned with Suzuki’s ethos of conceptual design through experience, the collection provides a lense on Converse’s daring versatility through the years.

Founder, Daiki Suzuki says of the collaboration, 

“When approached with the project to work with Converse the idea came from wanting to tell a bit of the history of the company, first and foremost. Chuck Taylor, for us is a perfect shoe that we weren’t sure we could add or subtract to, its remained almost unchanged all this time. The One Star or rather the iterations after the “Leather All Star” was a canvas we thought could be mined to create something new. 

“For Nepenthes/Engineered Garments, we have played around with the idea of twisting ideas together, creating negative/positive’s in one pair of shoes. In attempting to create something new, we thought it would be best to start the relationship by revisiting the past and melding the first four (after that “Leather All Star”) models into one. Doing them all at once will have memories for some, seeing them come out when they did and for others it will be a lesson on how things can change subtly over time. For myself it represents my youth, memories I hold dear.”

The sneakers are leather-lined with an Engineered Garments branded logo illustrated on the shoe’s sockliner. Each pair are housed in Engineered Garments premium packaging with tonal cotton laces.

The debut Engineered Garments Converse One Star collection is exclusively available in Commonwealth, SM Aura for Php 5,990.

For more of Engineered Garments Converse One Star, visit www.converse.com.ph and follow www.facebook.com/Converse.PH and @converse.ph. 

#ConversexEngineeredGarments

About Converse

Converse Inc., based in Boston, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including lifestyle men's, women's and children’s footwear, apparel and accessories and is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries. For more information, please visit media.converse.com and follow @converse.

About Engineered Garments

Engineered Garments is created by NYC based Japanese designer Daiki Suzuki. Daiki was inspired by his career in retail and later on in buying and sourcing product for the Japanese market. He has had stints designing for Woolrich’s Italian licensee holder, WP Lavori in Corso, with a niche line called Woolrich Woolen Mills. He founded Engineered Garments in 1999. EG has a strong cult following among fashion and millennial consumers that love his new take on American Sportswear with a streetwear twist and has established him as a force in menswear fashion. EG is part of the Nepenthes Umbrella of brands with a flagship store called Nepenthes NY in nyc.

The perfect shoes for the holiday season

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For this holiday season, it’s time to break the hoarding habit and slip on those special-occasion shoes that are truly worth it— shoes that you will truly, proudly, enjoy wearing, the ones that are fashionably on point, expressive, comfortable and lasting. 

According to a recent fashion poll, the average woman owns 20 pairs of shoes, but only wears five of them because the rest are either uncomfortable to wear or too difficult to match with outfits. Some are even too afraid of damaging their expensive pairs so they choose to keep it in the closet instead! 

Ging Pajaro of Via Venetto firmly believes in the significance of owning good pairs: “More women buy new shoes during the Christmas season. It is a fashion statement, at the same time a fulfilling reward, that help women establish their trademark, and express their persona. But what we truly deserve to have are the ones that express our lifestyle, that can make us go the distance happily for a long time.” 

Meticulously crafted in the brand’s fatto a mano (made by hand, handcrafted with years of experience and innovation) tradition to create that perfect silhouette for the feet, Via Venetto shoes speaks to every personality and for all occasions. For the Holiday 2015, the brand puts forward a collection that’s perfect for the season of celebrations. 

From leather ankle boots perfect for that edgy look, studded pumps that can make a statement in night parties and balls, to the posh and vintage feel of slingback heels and the insouciant modishness of flats—Via Venetto’s Holiday 2015 collection marries glamour with comfort and lastingness by providing the right cushion,support and fit. 

This Christmas, reward yourself with an investment pair that is not meant to be kept in your closet nor easily needs to be replaced. 

Visit Via Venetto stores at Greenbelt 1, Alabang TownCenter, Trinoma and SM Megamall. For inquiries, you may contact them at Phone: 63 28926334; Telefax: 63 2 8432725; or visit http://viavenetto-phil.co

Via Venetto, a world-class Pinoy shoe brand

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“World-class” has become a buzzword in today’s increasingly globalized economy. In a market that welcomes the influx of products from everywhere, only those with truly special offerings survive. Via Venetto is one such brand.

Founded in 1973, exporting to the United States of America, France and Singapore, Via Venetto is a company that draws upon a cherished shoemaking tradition in the Philippines – one carried on by families in the neighborhoods of Marikina and Liliw, even as cheap, low-quality shoes are being mass produced by the thousands in China and other Asian countries. 

Amid the threat of growing competition, the people behind Via Venetto were unafraid to ask themselves: “How do we keep our shoes world-class?” The answer, it appears, lay in sticking to what the company has championed over the years: a strong commitment to quality, handcrafted craftsmanship, and solid support and appreciation of the highly skilled Filipino artisan. 

A trusted brand

Since its foray into the shoe business in 1973, Via Venetto has enjoyed a strong following among women of style, with its collection of shoes that are touted to be at par with the world’s finest. Not surprisingly, the brand has earned an iconic status in the Philippine shoe industry.

“Our clients have grown old with us, and it’s a matter of pride for us. We enjoy the trust of many lolas, moms and titas, and we are thankful for that,” reveals Ms. Ging Pajaro, President of Via Venetto. Ging shares that the brand’s designs also cater to teens, women aged 25 to 35, young executives, upward mobile young professionals and the daughters, pamangkins, and apos of their patrons of many, many years.

Via Venetto has since launched new shoe collections that are set to catch the eye of the younger set. Now gracing their racks at Greenbelt, Glorietta, Ayala Town Center, SM Megamall, and Trinoma are ballerina flats and loafers in a variety of shades, as well as platforms, classic pumps, sandals, slingbacks, wedges, and mules with trendy woven, in glittery leathers, snakeskin, patent and new fashion finishes.

While they now sport a contemporary look, somehow the shoes still embody Via Venetto’s distinct aesthetic: made of fine Italian and European leathers, classy, and durable. After all, behind each pair is the brand’s 40 year-tradition of shoemaking.

Fatto a Mano

Via Venetto takes pride in a 39-step process of shoemaking by hand (or in Italian, fatto a mano), a practice inspired by some of the world’s most renowned brands and perfected by the company for over four decades.

Crafting shoes at the Via Venetto factory in Marikina begins with the conceptualization of a shoe design, as well as its translation into a working pattern. This is followed by the cutting, preparation, and closing of the upper, during which the leather is cut by hand or a machine, folded, and sewn together.

The shoemaker will then prepare the counter, outsole, insole, heel, and toplift, which are skived (cut into thin layers), buffed (smoothed), pressed, cemented, and nailed, before they are placed inside shoe lasts or wooden molds. After the lasting comes the attachment of the sole and heel.

Finally, the shoes undergo buffing, painting, polishing and cleaning, to the shoe tree for quality control, and are placed in boxes for distribution to stores, where they are sure to be ogled, touched and tried on by enthusiastic customers.

World-class 

In the face of the tougher competition brought by the onslaught of cheaper, imported shoes and knock-offs, Ging and the rest of the people behind Via Venetto are unperturbed.

“At Via Venetto, we have always stayed true to our cherished tradition of superior craftsmanship and our use of only the world’s finest leathers to make high-quality shoes. Hindi pwede ang pwede na (We do not suffice with make-do). It is this tradition which earned us a loyal patronage through the years, and which will enable us to keep our leadership and special place in the hearts of our clients and in Philippine shoe market,” Ging explained.

With a solid handcrafted shoemaking tradition, a devoted – and growing – following, and an innovative vision for the brand, Via Venetto is truly set to conquer greater heights, one step (of a superbly-crafted shoe) at a time.