1 week Ago
When founders--husband and wife--Stephen and Erica Malbon decided to put up Malbon Golf, they wanted to create a more fashion forward lifestyle brand inspired by golf. They were hoping to inject a “youthful energy” to the sport.“When we started the brand, we created a mission statement which was to inspire today's youth to participate in the greatest game on earth.
So that was really our North Star. What we realized is that we wanted to create a community that loved golf and that golf needed an injection of youthful energy. So our vehicle for that was really about apparel because young people love fashion, they love culture, they love music and if they feel good about themselves and confident with their wearing then they're more likely to participate in a game that has traditionally been stuffy and uncomfortable.
,” Erica said in an interview with GMA Lifestyle.They established the brand in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, releasing more fashion-forward apparel and collaborating with various brands. The brand has collaborated with Coca-Cola, producing premium, streetwear-style golf apparel.
It has likewise partnered with designer brand Jimmy Choo creating a line of stylish footwear.“The collaborations started from just us having interest in some of these brands and being fans of the brands and looking at it from a lens of, is this authentic to our customer, to ourselves? Is this something that we would want to use ourselves? So every collaboration we approach in that same way is that, is it authentic to who we're speaking to? Do we see this as an extension of our brand ethos? Is it going to reach more people? And that's really how we approach collaborations, whether it's Adidas or Jimmy Choo or Budweiser, it's all about making sure that there is an authentic connection and that they are going to help us spread our mission of inspiring young people to participate in golf,” she said. Source: Malbon GolfNew flagship storeSince its foundation, the brand has grown outside of the United States, opening several branches in South Korea and now its biggest store to date, at the corner space of Shangri-La The Fort on 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig.
It's located in a prime space and has two floors. The first floor is where the main retail space is located and a golf simulator. The second floor is a space exclusive for the brand's Buckets Club members.
The brand sells golf apparel, shoes, bags, golf bags, and other accessories.TKG Lifestyle is the local partner of the brand, the same company that brought Gentle Monster and % Arabica to the country.“First and foremost, it is my personal connection to the Philippines as I spent many years here in my youth.
I have an affinity for the Philippines and its culture and its people. Two, there's been so much support coming from the Philippines in terms of interest in the brand when it's either buying stuff online or buying stuff abroad and bringing it back here,” Erica explained why they decided to open a brand here in the country.During the store opening, the brand also launched its Manila-only collection, showcasing exclusive apparel.
Aside from the brand's main collections, it also has limited edition items for Buckets Club members.“Our retail has always been a key component to our brand experience and we really wanted to create retail that was a hub for people to get together and to be a part of our community and that still stays strong till today. We want people to come, we want them to feel the experience.
We want them to hit golf balls in the simulator and not just shop but also just take part in the brand,” she said. Source: Malbon GolfBeyond golfErica shared that the brand has expanded beyond golf, tapping customers who also love tennis.“I love to play tennis.
I'm not a great tennis player but I think it's fun. So I think that we look at it from that lens and also from our customers. If they love golf there's a portion of those people that also likes to play tennis so it's authentically speaking to that demographic,” she said.
But how will the brand introduce itself to the Philippines where basketball is king?“I think that golf is growing globally but also here in the Philippines. I think accessibility to the sport and being able to come to our store and play around in our simulator is a good entry point for people. And then we also consider ourselves a lifestyle brand inspired by golf so we have a lot of products that obviously can be worn on course but also that are for lifestyle.
You don't have to just be a golfer to be a part of the Mabon brand and I think that is going to speak to the Filipino customer,” she said.The brand has likewise tapped pro golf players as ambassadors like Filipina Olympian Bianca Pagdanganan and Filipino-Australian and former PGA Tour champion, Jason Day.MEANWHILE, CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM MALBON GOLF'S FLAGSHIP STORE IN BGC.
