Mark Jappy Gonzalez
Founder & Managing Director, H&F Retail Concepts
The man responsible for bringing Balenciaga, Lanvin and Comme des Garçons into the Philippines, he launched his chain of multi-brand boutiques in 1995.
Jappy Gonzalez is the founder of H&F Retail Concepts, which owns multi-brand stores Homme et Femme, Univers and a number of monobrand stores including Comme des Garçons, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Y-3.
The fashion retailer opened the concept store Homme et Femme in 1995, after spending 10 years as a designer and operations manager for a local Filipino brand. Today, the store carries labels including Acne, Margiela, Marni and Dries Van Noten , and is one of the top luxury destinations in Manila, Philippines.
Subsequent years saw Gonzalez diversify into franchising by opening a number of monobrand boutiques under H&F Retail Concepts. He was responsible for bringing Balenciaga, Lanvin, Comme des Garçons and other high fashion brands into the country.
In 2011, he opened a second Homme et Femme store, Univers, in shopping mall Rockwell Plaza, designed by architect Eduardo Calma. As well as featuring up-and-coming labels and mixing streetwear and luxury together, the store includes lifestyle elements, with waiting lounges, a fragrance collection and a Comme des Garçons Black shop-in-shop concept space.
In 2015, Gonzalez opened the first Ladurée store in the Philippines. And, on August 8, 2018, he opened the country's first Off-White store — the 27th globally — in Manila.
In 2021, Gonzalez opened Officine BULY store.
He has also collaborated with APC, KOLOR, ALYX, John Derian, Off-White and Fred Perry for exclusive merchandise to commemorate the 10th year of UNIVERS.
Career History
VITAL STATISTICS
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Long Overlooked, the Flourishing Philippines
The Philippines has long been overshadowed by its larger neighbours and underestimated by international fashion brands. Now the country is reporting faster economic growth than China. BoF reports.
Long Overlooked, the Flourishing Philippines
The Philippines has long been overshadowed by its larger neighbours and underestimated by international fashion brands. Now the country is reporting faster economic growth than China. BoF reports.
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