Jericho Rosales, Heart Evangelista on being ‘fashionable’ inside-out

Twenty-one years and counting – Penshoppe continues to be chic and trend-setting by going retro-oriental in its latest collection. And no less than showbiz sweethearts Jericho Rosales and Heart Evangelista are giving it the thumbs-up.

As it marks 21 years in the fashion industry, Penshoppe showcases their latest “Retro-Oriental” collection.

The designs are vintage and retro but with an oriental twist. Thus, Chinese calligraphy, Japanese kabuki masks, Anime looks and Asian-chic graphics adorn their clothes. Skinny jeans, hooded jackets and cardigans are made to match the theme as well.

Just like everyone else, the brand’s main endorsers, the young showbiz couple Jericho Rosales and Heart Evangelista, are happy about the new collection, knowing it has been more than two decades since Penshoppe opened its first store in Cebu.

“I’m glad that the fashion [scene] in the Philippines is starting to go with the flow with those in abroad. I really like Penshoppe’s new collection—the retro-oriental. It’s sobrang bagay and it’s not OA. They’re classic and simple yet stylish. Before nga, Penshoppe just had t-shirts lang talaga. Now, we have different garments already,” enthuses Heart.

Jericho agrees, “It’s experimental and I like the change of style. My fashion sense is that of the 60s. Minimalist kasi ako. Yung sinusuot ko dapat simple and comfortable.”

“I also like Penshoppe because we don’t feel exploited. I’m just not into the whole bra and panty types. Penshoppe is stylish yet still wholesome,” Heart smilingly adds.

Because their fashion styles matched with that of Penshoppe’s, it is no wonder why Jericho and Heart have been endorsing Penshoppe for one year now.

“I endorsed a different brand before. I had a good relationship with them for seven years. But then, I’d like to share my own views and my own sense of style. Then came Penshoppe, it was an answered prayer. Some great things you don’t plan just happen,” Jericho says.

“Ako naman, it was a childish decision at first. Since my previous clothing brand didn’t talk about renewals, I was wondering if I can endorse another one. I learned that Echo would be endorsing Penshoppe so I asked if they were looking for a girl. Naisip ko kasi na kung pareho kami, madalas kaming magkasama, sa pictorials, ganyan. Nagsisimula pa lang kami ‘non,” Heart gives a chuckle.

Still, even as one has a great sense of style and fashion, at the end of the day, it is not the clothes you wear but the attitude you show that matters most to the people around you.

Heart believes that “it’s not in what you wear but how you handle yourself. Like Hollywood celebrity Lindsay Lohan, I used to like her a lot because of her great fashion style but look at her attitude. Fashion is also about knowing what’s right and doing what is right,” says Heart.

“Being looked up as a fashion icon is really hard because you need to maintain your image. But then again, my fashion must go along with my personality and with what I do. It must not contradict my principles and beliefs,” Jericho explains.

Along with these new designs come the reinvention of Penshoppe’s store in Cebu City. Found in the second level of Ayala Center Cebu, Penshoppe unveiled its new flagship store.

“A flagship store has its own theme and identity. Though this store is at par with those we have in Manila, this store in Cebu is still different. We have an activity area here. There’s the lounge right when you enter the store. There’s also the listening and Internet surfing stations,” explains Penshoppe PR manager Michelle Baro-Chua.

Customers also get a walk down the memory lane as the walls are covered with memorabilia like TV advertisements and print campaigns from the past.

“We will see how the brand has evolved. We started with t-shirts and now, Penshoppe is already a lifestyle store,” says store manager Hans Christian Ocleas.

Last December 16, Penshoppe also celebrated its 21 years with a fashion show. With Cebu’s top designers Vania Romoff, Jackie Climaco and Cybill Gayatin, Penshoppe’s hottest items got reinvented into the design trends of ‘80s, ‘90s and the present.

From a small clothing store in Cebu back in 1986, Penshoppe has evolved into one of Philippine’s leading fashion brands. And through the years, it has continued to prove its great sense of style—one that’s also in tune with the customers and patrons it serves.

As Jericho’s parting statement goes: “Penshoppe has my detail.”