Your faves’ fave eyewear brand is now in the Philippines. Here’s what you need to know about Gentle Monster’s flagship store in BGC.
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You’ve probably seen the teasers on social media, the star-studded launch party, or heard about Ahn Hyo-Seop’s recent visit to the country, but in case you didn’t know, Gentle Monster is finally in the Philippines with the official opening of their flagship Manila store in Shangri-La The Fort in BGC.
The groundbreaking global eyewear brand has made a name for itself as one of the top labels that all the it-girls and boys wear. Whether you’ve seen one of your fave idols wear their glasses or are just a fan of the brand, it now has become easier to cop a pair (or two). But before you head off to BGC, here are a few things you should know before visiting the Gentle Monster flagship store.
WHAT IS GENTLE MONSTER?
If all this talk about Gentle Monster has got you swept up in the hype but aren’t even so sure what the brand is all about, we got you covered. Gentle Monster was founded by Hankook Kim in 2011 and is a luxury South Korean eyewear brand that focuses on making glasses that fit the Asian frame and facial features. Over the years, the brand has gained worldwide recognition for its unique and innovative storytelling when it comes to fashion. Operating on an unconventional philosophy, the brand eschews what is typical of an eyewear brand as it pushes the boundaries of creativity, both in its products and how its stores look. All of this to say, a pair of Gentle Monster shades will help you stand out from the crowd.
WHAT IS GENTLE MONSTER MANILA SELLING?
Inside the spacious Gentle Monster Manila store are over 200 pairs of shades and spectacles that are free for your perusal. Nearly every pair of glasses in the store is free to try with staff readily available to assist you. The glasses range from full-on sunglasses to tinted lenses of various colors and even optical glasses. They all come in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs, giving you a lot of options for the kind of shades that best fit you.
Also, dropping this November 2nd both online and in-store is the 2024 Optical Collection and their take on the high school experience, which they call GENTLE HIGH SCHOOL. The collection presents a new direction for optical frames, combining bold and sophisticated metal elements as well as tinted lenses of various shades.
ARE THERE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS?
Yes, there are. Gentle Monster recently announced the exclusive restock of the Maison Margiela collection, available only in Manila on October 17th. The collection presents Gentle Monster’s original eyewear designs incorporating real threaded details of Maison Margiela’s stitch logo, embodying a marriage between two brands that champion uncompromised creativity and self-expression.
WHAT ARE THE PRICES?
If you’re hoping to cop a pair of Gentle Monster glasses at their BGC store, it’s going to cost you. Prices vary depending on the style, design, and collection. But generally, a pair will set you back between 10-20 thousand pesos. And no, Gentle Monster does not do sales or promotions.
HOW DOES THE STORE LOOK LIKE?
One of the main reasons why Gentle Monster has stood out from the crowd is that their retail stores are never the same. No space is alike, and that’s the case with their Shangri-La Manila Flagship. When you enter the store, you’ll be greeted with ‘The Giant’ sitting atop a destructed architectural reinterpretation of FREDERIK HEYMAN’s 3D artwork. The rest of the store is decorated with intricately placed art pieces in vertical and horizontal variations. No other Gentle Monster store looks like the one in BGC. Think of it as an art gallery meets eyewear store. It all makes for a truly one-of-a-kind retail experience.
ARE WALK-INS ALLOWED?
Yes. There’s no need for you to pre-reserve a slot or go on a waitlist to enter the store. Feel free to walk into Gentle Monster’s BGC store during its store hours. However, the store only lets in a certain amount of people at a time so you might have to wait in a line on peak hours before you enter.
WHERE IS THE STORE AND WHEN IS IT OPEN?
The Gentle Monster BGC store is located at 5th Ave, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila. It is open between 11:00 AM-10:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday and 11:00 AM-11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Photos courtesy of Gentle Monster
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