MANILA – Local fashion companies Bayo and Unica Hija announced Thursday that they will merge their businesses in a bid to expand their product and customer base and make their prices more competitive to the Philippine market.
The brands Bayo and Unica Hija, however, will stay as they cater to different market segments.
“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 bag and jewelry, as well as other merchandise for women. We also have recently expanded into children’s wear, enabling our customers to pass on their love for Bayo to a new generation,” Bayo general manager Pinky Estrebillo said in a statement.
Unica Hija general manager Cristy Basa, for her part, said: “Unica Hija caters to young Filipinas who are looking for outfits with contemporary silhouettes, vibrant colors and trendy designs at accessible price points.”
Aside from the merger, the two fashion companies announced that they have entered into a partnership with the Filipino clothing merchandise provider Power Fashion Inc. to support their demand for ready-to-wear fashion for women.
Power Fashion Inc. will be tasked to accredit local subcontractors for the two brands. The partnership with Bayo and Unica Hija will allow the company to invest in more factory space and create more jobs.
“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 trends to source merchandise made from other companies,” said Leo Lagon, chief executive officer of Power Fashion Inc.
Both Bayo and Unica Hija have been in the retail business for about 20 years. Bayo has 50 standalone stores nationwide, while Unica Hija has more than 70 branches.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
