CEBU / FASHION / Clothing
Founder: Renice VIktoria Uy
1. What got you started with this brand? What was your inspiration? What is the idea/concept behind it?
I always enjoyed fashion and I have always wanted to start my own brand, but I just didn’t know how and where to start. My previous job was in retail, and I eventually got a managerial position. Being in that position gave me an idea of how to handle the flow of things and how brands operate. I worked at a multi-brand store so I met a lot of the brand owners, which inspired me and sparked my interest in starting my own brand even more.
As much as I love fashion, I don’t like being wasteful, so I like having staple pieces that can be worn multiple ways and investing in good-quality basics that can be worn for a long time without breaking. I also like supporting small businesses, but I noticed that I usually gravitate towards purchasing from international brands, which can get too expensive over time. This gap was what made me push my idea of making long-lasting basics that are affordable and accessible locally.
2. What is your personal favorite product from your brand?
My personal favorite item is definitely the Cropped Half Zip Sweatshirt. I wear it all the time–whether I’m just lounging at home, working out, doing errands, or going out to get food or coffee. I can wear it with almost anything as well–I wear it with shorts, legging, trousers, you name it. It also comes with an adjustable waistband, so you have the option to wear it cinched or just let it hang loosely. All of the items from For Keeps are definitely versatile and can be worn with a lot of things, but the Cropped Half Zip Sweatshirt definitely gives that kick and interesting factor to any casual look.
3. What do you want people to experience with your brand/product(s)?
Comfort and Confidence. Whenever I try putting an outfit together, I always end up picking the outfit that makes me feel best. When I feel good, then I look good, which is an instant mood booster. So when I was coming up with ideas for For Keeps, I wanted my customers to feel good and look good. I create pieces that I know are comfortable but still cute and flattering at the same time. You don’t have to choose between comfort or style when you can have both!
4. What tips and advice can you give to entrepreneurs who are just starting out or are planning to start their own brand?
Before I started my own brand, I had a job and I always remembered to put a portion of my income aside. I put those savings in a separate account so that I could eventually use them as capital. And when the time came, I was so grateful that I did that because I definitely had to shell out a huge portion of my savings and so much money went into starting For Keeps. I’m so happy it turned out to be a good investment since people seem to love it.
I still consider myself a newbie entrepreneur, but the advice I can give to my fellow newbies or people who are thinking of starting their own brand is to save up so you can invest in your ideas. I still follow this tip to this day so that I can continuously fund my ideas for the future.
5. What’s next for your brand?
A lot of people think For Keeps is a loungewear brand, but it’s actually supposed to be a collection of all kinds of basics and essential clothing. I started out with loungewear pieces because when For Keeps launched, there were many stay-at-home orders, so it was just right to start off with loungewear. But I have so many pieces for For Keeps–think tanks, tees, pleated trousers, dresses, and more. I am constantly experimenting with different fabrics and styles, so definitely stay tuned!
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LOVE, PHIL. 