Get your game on because this basketball-crazed nation is getting the royal airness treatment with the launch of the Jordan store in Manila.
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It goes without saying that the Philippines has claimed dominion over the game of basketball. A cultural obsession, with its reach dribbling to the far edges of the country, as well as of practically every street corner, there is no other great signifier of the recreational sort synonymous to the Filipinos. Well, aside from boxing and beer, but that’s a whole other conversation in itself. One doesn’t even have to be a hardcore lover or even player of the game, because when and where it counts, every Filipino has a basketball story to tell.
And of course, you cannot even begin a telling of the beloved game of ball without making mention of his royal airness, Michael Jordan, the man who despite following many greats before him, has stuck his tongue out and taken basketball to soaring heights. With his unique stamp on the sport, Jordan has cultivated a culture out of it, expanding its reach to entertainment and even fashion. So much so that his brand of athletic clothing and sneakers has since earned a loyal following well after he retired the number 23. Growing into a top-of-the-line, innovative, and stylish offshoot of expression, every move on the proverbial court is always a highly anticipated one.
Latest collabs or quality developments aside, it doesn’t get any more talked about than the launch of a Jordan store, an encompassing and immersive space that houses all the best of the brand, as well as celebrates the colorful culture of the country it finds itself in. A groundbreaking first in Manila and Southeast Asia, the Jordan brand enclave rises in the midst of the bustling commercial district of Bonifacio Global City. Boasting of two floors and an expansive 4500 square feet space, the store becomes an experience the moment the door swings open. (It must be noted that safety protocols and health measures are well in place, especially with its book and shop store feature.) The retail design concept is a basketball aficionado’s version of heaven with its assortment of kids, women’s, and men’s apparel, walls lined with a timeline of Jordan classics and a drool-worthy display of must-have drops.
Rooted in the heart and soul of basketball and the Jordan legacy, there is a lot to take in—from the sneaker stories you can scan via a QR code as if you were in a museum, one-on-one styling services, and Custom 23, a hub tucked away where you can personalize your Jordan haul into something more you.
Coloring the Jordan haven are splashes of artworks that line the walls in distinctly Filipino details from Filipino artists such as Veejay Villafranca, Jaime Pacena, Raxenne Maniquiz, AJ Dimarucot. To further make its public opening even more special, 150 pairs of the limited edition Air Jordan 4 Retro Manila will drop. Not to worry, it is also in display in-store for you to marvel at its green glory.
There is more to this than just apparel and sneakers, because as Jino Ferrer, Marketing Manager for Nike Philippines explains, “Basketball is more than just a sport in the Philippines, it is embedded in the culture. In the high streets of Manila or the local barangays across the country, the passion for basketball inspires and drives the communities.” Committed to the culture, the Jordan promises to expand the expression of basketball, to grow the game and participation in sports from the youth, and to champion positive changs when it comes to the community. This includes using the rooftop court as a safespace for initiatives dedicated give backs and sports clinics. “This store will help take the future of basketball culture to the next level by inspiring our new generation through the legacy of Jordan, the best innovation and services like never before.”
The crowning jewel of the Jordan store in Manila is a basketball court featuring a stunning graphic mural imagined by NYC-based artist, Kimou Meyer. Illustrating the energy of the game, the brand, and of the culture, the work of art is realized in eye-popping visuals black, white, and varsity red. Pulsating and primal in form, it is indicative of the spirit of basketball, which revs you up once you step off the Brooklyn-esque metail staircase and onto the court for even just a few shots through the hoops.
Ahead of its much-awaited opening to the public on December 3, the calendar of Jordan store in Manila is considerably filled up through its book and shop system, naturally. The site actually lists it as far as May 2021, but for those waiting to get in on the game, the jumpman brand is working hard at making sure you have the chance at the Jordan Manila experience sooner. Keep your eyes peeled for updates, because for anyone with a hardcore or remote love for basketball, this is one game you wouldn’t want to miss.
