DIRECTIONAL DRESSING
Jappy Gonzalez has been a player in the retail game for 25 years now, staying ahead with retail concepts that last
From the eye of outsiders, the Manila shopping scene may seem outdated: the usual players have all arrived (with more to come), and opulent brands with obvious labels continue to make their presence known. Most of these establishments tend to lack a point of view in the clothes they sell and can be disappointing for those who want something new. For many, however, there exists a breed of shops that are tailor-made for shoppers with a discerning eye, for people who have a want and need for clothes that speak authenticity and truth.
Tucked deep within the business metropolis is the shopping haven Univers, long known as the purveyor of cool, understated luxury. A favored spot for those into high-concept, minimalist fashion, owner Jappy Gonzalez is very much hands on. “A regular day for me is being at work seven days a week,” he shares. Bespectacled and dressed in a grey button-down jumpsuit, Jappy generously moved his shoot for Lifestyle Asia, accommodating the request to shoot the day before his flight.
Jappy first dipped his toes in retail at the age of 20 when he started working for Cinderella, where he was given leeway to offer his own suggestions and improvements. That stint lasted for ten years and was followed by the opening of the first multiband store he opened in 1995. Today Homme et Femme continues to be a standout success, a benchmark for all wouldbe independent shop owners. Univers, situated in the same area of his other stores was opened in 2011. Along with clothing, the boutique features home fragrance line Cire Trudon and other lifestyle accoutrements like side plates and coffee table books. Spend a few minutes inside this Ed Calma-designed oasis and the allure to pick up something special as a gift for dearest friends or a treat for the self is undeniable. H&F Retail Concepts
is the umbrella company of both stores, along with Hoodwinked, another multi-brand shopping destination geared to those with a taste that is more eclectic. Other than multi-brand retail, Jappy has also bought in single-brand stores like Balenciaga, Lanvin, and Ladurée Manille, a local offshoot of the beloved French dessert brand.
The fashion landscape and its players have shifted heavily since 1995, which is something Jappy has noticed both in the way his store concepts are branded as and in his personal tastes. He shares that when he was younger, his understanding of what luxury is was more materialistic, more rooted in actual things, whereas today it is more focused on his sense of self and personhood. “Right now my view of luxury is being able to do anything you want whenever you want with no consequence. That’s my idea of luxury,” he says.
“Right now my view of luxury is being able to do anything you want whenever you want with no consequence. That’s my idea of luxury”