MANILA, Philippines - Ever wonder what the Penguin stands for in the shirts worn by the likes of Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Adam Brody as well as the members of Interpol, Vampire Weekend, and the Arctic Monkeys, among so many others?
It stands for an unpretentious, genuine, unique, independent and creative approach to fashion — something that the Original Penguin brand has prided itself on for decades.
That’s right, the Penguin logo on your favorite artists’ shirts is both a classic and a fashion-forward brand — so much so that its clientele range from your stylish young professional to your devil-may-care rock artist. And let’s not forget about the golfers. They are, after all, the first ones to make Original Penguin a must-have in men’s wardrobes in the 1960s and 1970s — anointing as the quintessential and iconic golf shirt.
Cheryl Lao, managing partner of Anthem Shoppes Inc. (ASI), the exclusive licensee and retail partner of Original Penguin in the Philippines, says that the brand has, in fact, quite an interesting history.
“Original Penguin was introduced in 1955 by an underwear and military supply company, Minneapolis-based Munsingwear. It started out with a golf shirt that was worn by the likes of President Richard Nixon, Frank Sinata, and Bob Hope. Since then, the brand has grown into a complete lifestyle brand that now includes classic sportswear and apparel as well as accessory collections for not just men, but women and boys as well,” she shares.
Just as interesting is the brand’s choice of the penguin logo. Ericson Lee, Lao’s managing partner for ASI, reveals that it came about after a Munsingwear salesman spotted a group of penguins in a New York taxidermist’s window.
While Original Penguin was deemed a classic, something that only the upper crust of society wears, it became a hot and hip brand in early 2000 when retro fashion became all the rage.
“People who were not even born during the decades Original Penguin made its mark began scouring for it in vintage stores in the United States. And it became even more popular when it was featured in shows like The O.C.,” Lao says.
This underground passion for Original Penguin prompted Urban Outfitters’ former men’s divisional merchandising manager Chris Kolbe to approach leading fashion designer and distributor Perry Ellis to revive the brand in 2001.
In 2003, Kolbe successfully reintroduced Original Penguin to a younger, fashion-conscious consumer, while at the same time maintaining the brand’s heritage. The marriage of the classic and the fashion-forward was a success.
Perhaps the best example of how eclectic Original Penguin’s image is its choice of endorser for its latest campaign. That would be no less than All-American Rejects’ frontman, Tyson Ritter. The campaign will appear in such trendsetting magazine as GQ, Details, Out, and Nylon Guys.
More importantly, though, is that customers can now buy their very own Original Penguin apparel and accessory without having to go to the United States or Europe.
Original Penguin shops can now be found in Power Plant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, and SM Mall of Asia.