(SPOT.ph) When the arrival of her second child turned her morning dressing routine into a personal Amazing Race challenge, entrepreneur Pia See found herself voicing the constant refrain of time-strapped yet style-conscious women: What do I wear?
“I could hardly find any options for myself [in the market], so I started making my own clothes again,” shares fashion-savvy See, reviving an old hobby of stitching shirts and dresses for herself. At the time, she had also just started managing the family's corporate uniform-making business, and it dawned on her that she could explore its fashion potential—a uniform of chic daily wear for harried multi-taskers, basically. And so in 2015, her spin-off brand Unif0rm (a zero in place of an O) was born.
Style Solutions for the Modern Woman
“My inspiration has always been the modern woman who needs style and sense in her clothes. She shouldn’t have to waste time thinking about what to wear each day, because as a modern woman she already has many other things to focus on. That woman is me, and there must be many other women who share this need,” reveals See, now a mom of three. For her, the Unif0rm woman has a "distinct, yet timeless" style. She adds, "There may be three women all wearing the same Unif0rm design but each one of them owns her look.”
Arming herself with a course in fashion design, See was bent on creating fuss-free style solutions for the modern woman. “I design for women who are like myself: Someone who balances serious responsibilities at home and at work, and who has no time to waste worrying what to wear in the morning.” See adds, “She likes to have fun, and is not afraid to show her style in the clothes she wears.”
With the philosophy that “you don't have to wait for an occasion to dress nicely,” Unif0rm offers everyday pieces in figure-flattering, inventive silhouettes that will take you from business meetings to run-of-the-mill errands with ease. Looking chic doesn't have to break the bank with prices starting at about P1,850 to P5,500 for separates, and P6,000 for coordinated sets for the ultimate no-brainer dressing. Crowd favorites are the crisp Mavis button-down polo, the glam Joy funnel neck top, and the head-turning Sarong pants that you can wear casually knotted, or loose and flowing.
A peek at the brand's IG will show a gallery of real women putting their own spin on Unif0rm pieces, interspersed with style inspo from See herself, whose natural flair for fashion makes her the brand's best ambassador. “I like mixing classic styles with edgy pieces, and structural designs that still feel feminine. I like that there's always something unexpected,” See shares.
The comments section (as well as See's swelling inbox) is proof of how women have embraced the brand. One comment reads: "I love wearing it [the Sofia top], it makes me feel like a CEO."
Versatile and comfy, Unif0rm pieces make great travel companions, too. Recently, one customer told See that while wearing Unif0rm's NINA on a trip to Vietnam, an Italian woman stopped her to ask where she got her top. “When she showed her our website, the woman said she said that she loved everything!” And for those in the biz such as hers, the best feedback is always from customers who share that they feel beautiful wearing the brand.
Ready for FAME
If you want to get your hands on Unif0rm pieces, you can check them out at the E-tailers section of the ongoing Manila FAME, the Philippines' premier design and lifestyle trade fair. The event will give potential international buyers and local shoppers alike a chance to see the brand's proudly Philippine-made pieces in person. In addition, Unif0rm's capsule collection are available exclusively at the fair.
“The theme for the capsule collection is having a 'holiday state of mind' everyday,” See reveals. “We have to admit, we all want that feeling—to relax, go on a break, enjoy, laugh with old friends.” See clarifies that this state of mind is different from actually going on a trip, as some “vacations” can turn out to be incredibly hectic and tiring.
“For me, having that holiday state of mind could be from a 15-minute coffee break, or enjoying that last chapter of the book with no interruptions from anyone. It could be a weekend at the mall, or a long overdue night out with your girlfriends. We can find this feeling even in the simplest moments,” See enthuses. “This is what inspired this special collection—we can choose to be in that holiday state of mind anytime, anywhere.”
By offering chic style solutions you can simply “add to cart,” Unif0rm has helped free clients from the anxiety of worrying about what to wear. See attests, “She now has a 'uniform' of clothes that reflect her personal style, and she wears each piece with confidence because she knows she looks and feels great each time she wears her Unif0rm.”
View Unif0rm's capsule collection at Manila FAME until October 19 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hall D, Booth 9 at the World Trade Center, or shop online after the fair.
Pierra Calasanz-Labrador is a former magazine editor turned freelance writer, stylist, and author of two poetry books (The Heartbreak Diaries and Dear Universe). A staunch advocate of pretty, Filipino finds, follow her local treasure hunt on Instagram.
