Never one to miss out on trends, Manila is slowly but surely becoming a hot spot for international fashion brands that are looking to expand their reach in the Asia Pacific region.
However, most of the time, expansion is a luxury that only the biggest brands in the industry can afford, and one that dwindles against the chances of putting up a store in places like Hong Kong and Singapore. This point of opportunity is where Distinqt comes in.
Black blazer with colored varsity stripe sleeves and black trousers with varsity stripe both by TIBI, black jeweled belt with ostrich feathers by N°21
Distinqt is a multi-brand concept store curated with the young, creative, and perpetually on-trend professional in mind. The store houses premium to luxury brands such as Edmos, known for creating garments and accessories out of regenerated leather; minimalist Japanese clothing brand Enfold; quirky shoe brand Joshua Sanders; Italian jeweller may mOma; Florence-based luxury jewelry brand Schield; Korean street wear brand SJYP; contemporary fashion brand TIBI; and Russian clothing brand Walk of Shame. In the coming months, Distinqt is set to welcome even more labels to its roster.
Navy lace pajama top and trousers both by N°21, silver slides with blue pompoms by JOSHUA SANDERS
Distinqt also boasts the complete line of N°21, a first in the country-other boutiques have only come as far as bringing in select items from the brand. Brand Manager, Andrew Naval, describes the store as highly seasonal, as it follows a four-season year (winter, spring, summer and fall), with a promise to curate niche brands that are not available in the Philippines every season. The store also claims to maintain a competitive price point with only a 10-15% difference from the foreign brands’ Hong Kong rates.
Green ruffled chiffon dress and tan bejeweled belt both by N°21, white mink fur slides by JOSHUA SANDERS
Starting with a quaint pop-up in Makati, Distinqt is gearing up to open its first store in Shangri-La at The Fort called Distinqt Black, which will carry items from the fall/winter releases. The black marble floor of the 200-square foot store will distinguish itself from its larger counterpart in Ortigas, Distinqt White, which is set to open in The Podium’s new wing.
Navy layered button-down by ENFOLD, denim midi-skirt with double slit by SJYP, tan slip-on sneakers with oversized knot detail by JOSHUA SANDERS
Photography by Kieran Punay of STUDIO100
Art Direction by Tanya Mallillin
Make up by Lei Ponce
Hair by Jof Fantone of New Monarq Creativx
Modeled by Kim of Elite Manila
Frequently Asked Questions
Distinqt is a multi-brand concept store in Manila curated for young, creative, and on-trend professionals. It carries premium to luxury international labels, aiming to give brands an alternative to opening their own stores in markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore. It began with a pop-up in Makati.
Distinqt carries Edmos, known for garments and accessories made from regenerated leather, along with Enfold, Joshua Sanders, Schield, SJYP, TIBI, Walk of Shame, and N°21. The store said more labels would join in the coming months, with niche brands not available in the Philippines curated each season.
Distinqt carries the complete N°21 line, which the store describes as a first in the Philippines, since other boutiques had only brought in select items from the Italian brand. Brand Manager Andrew Naval described the store as highly seasonal, following a four-season year of winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Distinqt claims to keep a competitive price point, with only a 10 to 15 percent difference from the foreign brands’ Hong Kong rates. The store is positioned as a way for international labels to reach Manila without opening standalone stores, which are usually affordable only to the biggest brands.
After its Makati pop-up, Distinqt planned to open Distinqt Black at Shangri-La at The Fort, a 200-square-foot store with a black marble floor carrying fall/winter releases. A larger Distinqt White was planned for The Podium’s new wing in Ortigas, as described when the store was announced.
