The after-school special

MANILA, Philippines - Retail Lab presents local independent clothing labels from SoFA and beyond. Get ready for a closet overhaul.

Call us crazy, but just ask any girl — our closets will always, always feel empty. Sure we’ve got a lot of clothes, and our 64 pairs of shoes are lined up with the precision of a North Korean battalion, but that’s beside the point. The truth is, there is nothing quite like the horror of waking up on the first day of the semester and realizing that everything makes you look and feel like that Wreck-It Ralph dude.

In case you’re wondering, no, we girls don’t have mental myopia. And don’t even bother asking me why this is so; we’ll have better luck breaking up One Direction than getting to the bottom of this. (You know, because they’ll never break up.)

While we’re moving on from the whys, let’s start dwelling on the more important question: what in the world do we do about it?

Thankfully one need not ask too much, because Retail Lab’s already got the answer. According to its manager Rosanna Aranaz, this multi-brand store houses labels by alumni of the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA), giving them a venue to experience managing a retail business and taking part in the local fashion market.

They’ve even upped the ante by giving their store a facelift in their cozy set-up at the Power Plant Mall. The kitschy-retro aesthetics include chalkboard-style signage, hardwood walls, and metal pipes as clothes racks. They even use vintage furniture like sewing machine tables to display their accessories. Just imagine the grown-up tree house you’ve always wanted but could never have because, well, you don’t have a tree.

Of course, great storefronts (almost) always come with great merchandise, and Retail Lab does not disappoint. Retail Lab features a well-curated selection of clothing, footwear, and swimwear made by SoFA graduates.

Sesa, for one, is known for its printed mini dresses and versatile pieces. Speaking of their holiday 2013 collection, Sesa’s Kathleen Serrano says, “Our prints are not ordinary prints… the quirkiness of bugs, and the light feel of our feather print kimono, are some examples of our designs that are different yet so wearable and easy.”

Because we thankfully live in perpetual beach weather, getting to know Retail Lab’s drool-worthy swimwear brands will go a long way. There’s Soak, a label well-loved by beach bums all over. They also have Cocotini, which doesn’t only offer swimsuits but also clothes that are great for poolside lounging.

Mia Villavicencio of swimwear brand Cocotini describes their versatility as such: “It moves from pool to patio with easy elegance.” She adds, “Most dresses can also be worn in the city with their soft silhouettes and feminine details.”

From the girliest of girls, let’s get tough with Retail Lab’s lone menswear brand. According to the Daily Shirting Co’s Miguel Santos, their brand makes ready-to-wear shirts with a tailored fit. Not many words needed for The Daily Shirting Co; their classic pieces make such a statement that any girl would be lucky to nip this from their brother’s or boyfriend’s closet.

If none of that tickles your fancy (although one can’t imagine why it wouldn’t), Retail Lab’s other labels are definitely worth checking out. There’s Code Limited with its array of on-trend pieces, Baby Mafia with stylish clothes for discerning little girls, and Neon Island with cleaver knit pieces that’ll fit right into a hipster short film. You can also take a look at Retail Lab’s accessory brands like Flutter and Jean & Rosz to add pizzazz to your existing clothes.

With such promising talent, one would think that Retail Lab would have exhausted all the tricks up its sleeve, but not quite. Together with her business partner Claudine Baron, Rosanna says that they are also expanding Retail Lab by planning to introduce even more brands by SoFA students and tapping them to handle other aspects of the store such as visual merchandising, store operations, and marketing.

 â€œWe’ll always be introducing new brands and labels, so our merchandise will always be changing,” says Rosanna. “It’s always exciting to see the ideas that can come from these young, promising individuals!”

Retail Lab’s humbly sized store betrays its mettle, and with its arsenal of great brands, it sure does pack a punch. While we may never know the reason behind our perpetual wardrobe ruts, just remember that if you do find yourself in one, just head on over to Retail Lab — your closet will never feel empty again.

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Visit Retail Lab at 2/F Archeology Annex, Power Plant Mall, Makati City.

Photos by RJ ROQUE, Styled by KAREN BOLILIA, Modelled by KYLIE VERZOSA