Made with heart and humanity: Human Made x Shake Shack

I do love a good burger, and I have always been a fan of Shake Shack since it landed in Manila. Their burgers have a healthy taste while remaining hearty. When they opened their first branch at Central Square in BGC, we would buy a big bag of their burgers and fries to take back to our Quezon City home. Mercifully, they are much more accessible now.

In New York, we would walk past the original branch on Madison Square Park where it was considered a landmark. I only learned recently that Shake Shack was founded by the legendary restauranter Danny Meyer, as  mentioned when he was a guest on Ina Garten’s TV show. Danny Meyer started Shake Shack in 2001 as a way to revitalize the park and elevate the hamburger meal beyond fast food.

We are so fortunate that Good Eats Specialists, a proud member of the SSI group, has brought this burger chain to our shores. The most exciting news today is the collaboration collection between Human Made and Shake Shack, which includes adorable merchandise as well as a collaboration menu that was launched across Asia.

Human Made is a Japanese lifestyle brand that was launched by Nigo in 2010 and its thought-provoking concept is that “The Future is in the Past.” Visitors to Japan might have already noticed the country’s penchant for Americana, and this is reflected in brands like Human Made where there is emphasis on street wear, workwear and careful craftsmanship. The trademark heart-shaped logo reflects its “born from creative inspiration, made with heart and humanity” motto. Not surprisingly, its emphasis on both heritage and innovation has gained for it a global following.

In its mission statement, Human Made says,  “We believe that creativity is a fundamental human value. And only when our minds move beyond calculating mere practicality and efficiency do we land upon truly new ideas. In this spirit, we at Human Made Inc. fuse the culture of the streets with a deep reverence of the past to shape our global future.”

What better combination can there be between a Japanese brand with an attitude to uplift and a burger chain that created hamburgers that were healthier than regular fast food? No wonder Shake Shack’s purpose is to “Stand for Something Good.”

The Human Made x Shake Shack limited-edition collection translates into a line of T-shirts, caps, burger shaped cushions, PVC pouches, key chains that can be worn as accessories on your bag or belt, and pass cases (as in your subway pass or here, your beep card). These feature the collaboration logo and are available at Human Made online stores (https://humanmade.jp) and physical stores in different locations.

The menu collaboration naturally infuses Japanese elements into popular Shake Shack items. You have a Human Made Teriyaki Shack which is a cheeseburger topped with teriyaki glaze, toasted black and white sesame seeds, pickled daikon, crispy onions, scallions and sweet soy mayo on a toasted potato bun. The Human Made Curry Cheese Fries features crispy crinkle cut fries topped with curry cheese sauce, applewood smoked bacon and scallions. The Human Made Mango Yuzu Shake has frozen vanilla custard blended with mango and the Japanese citrus yuzu, topped with whipped cream and mango powder.

These collaboration menu items will be served in a special packaging with the heart-burger icon. In addition, a limited-edition key ring and pin will be sold at participating Shake Shack branches in the Philippines (excluding SM North EDSA, Gateway Mall 2 and NAIA Terminal 3).

The collaboration collection has also been launched in Japan, Seoul and Hong Kong. The burgers and collectibles in the collab are available in select Shake Shack branches until supplies last