Back in February 2020, I was all set to launch Stacked Manila — a lifestyle travel brand creating functional, stylish travel bags and organizers. Then the pandemic hit, and with everyone forced to stay at home, it didn’t make sense to move forward. So, I put the idea on hold and refocused on my studies.
Over the summer, I jumped on the chance to sell face masks, capitalizing on the high demand. It was a solid side hustle, but I was after something more sustainable and impactful. That’s when I noticed everyone was starting to get into loungewear, perfect for the new work-from-home lifestyle. Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers,” I decided to launch my own fashion brand, The Outliers Studios.
Kicking off a business at 20 with no industry experience was a real challenge, but I was all in. With help from fashion-forward friends Bianca Doria and Amira Villareal, and guidance from my mentor, Mr. Ben Dy, I launched Outliers Studios in July 2020. With just Php 30,000, the brand brought in Php 1.5 million in revenue in less than six months.
Four years on, Outliers Studios has rolled out over 10 collections, created a community of thousands of people globally, and collaborated with cool businesses such as BeautyMNL, Globe, and other local brands.
Juggling the growth of my business with academic achievements and a full-time corporate gig post-graduation has been a whirlwind but super rewarding. A lot of this success I attribute to the skills I honed in the EM program and the unwavering support of my friends and family.
Will Outliers Studios expand even further? Will I kick off another venture? Who knows—that’s the exciting part. My experiences across fashion, lifestyle, tech, and startups keep me agile and motivated, ready for whatever comes next. Thanks to the EM program, I’m prepared for whatever path I choose to take.