BRGY, a new concept store spotlighting contemporary Philippine design, has officially opened in Makati’s bustling creative scene. Situated on the 7th floor of One Corporate Center along Arnaiz Avenue, the space adds to the city’s growing hub of studios and lifestyle concepts that celebrate modern Filipino culture.
At the helm of this project is designer Jor-El Espina, who brings his vision for fashion and design to a collaborative retail experience. He shared how the store came to life through a partnership of creative minds. “After opening my atelier on the same floor, I decided to take this space with the intention of doing something creative. It was actually the idea of (fashion director) JR Arce to invite my designer friends and collaborators to be part of this evolving project,” he recalls.
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A Barangay for Creatives
The store’s name takes inspiration from “barangay,” the Philippines’ smallest yet most essential community unit. For Espina, the word perfectly reflects the spirit of collaboration and inclusivity that BRGY embodies. “The concept of a barangay is unique to our country,” he adds. “For BRGY, we wanted to highlight a small community of creatives and diverse brands.”
True to that spirit, the concept store will rotate its offerings every three to six months. Shoppers can expect a dynamic mix of fresh brands, capsule collections, and lifestyle finds, from Jed Yabut’s furniture to Doc Marlon Pecjo’s photography, Paperbound’s handcrafted décor, and Reverie’s yarncraft by model-turned-maker Ria Bolivar.
Curated Exclusivity and Fresh Discoveries
Espina emphasizes that BRGY aims to offer one-of-a-kind pieces that can’t be found elsewhere. “The collections we feature in BRGY are exclusive to the concept store and are produced in small batches. The pieces I have here, for example, are completely different from the ones you’ll see at the atelier or pop-ups,” he explains.
Other designers featured in the current lineup include Jun Escario, Lorico, and Viktor Jeans, with each presenting limited collections that showcase distinct approaches to contemporary Filipino style. According to Espina, the store will remain open to diverse design-centric projects in the future. “We endeavor to showcase new creative discoveries and ideas, mostly fashion continuously, but we are always open to anything design-centric,” he ends.
With its rotating showcases and community-driven ethos, BRGY stands as both a concept store and a creative collective, bridging modern Filipino style with a fresh retail experience in the heart of Makati.
