After conquering the fashion scenes in South Korea, US, Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, UAE, UK, Australia, and Thailand, popular Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster is marking another milestone in its global expansion with the opening of its flagship store in the Philippines at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City.
Established in 2011 by Hankook Kim, the fashion-forward brand has gained popularity for its daring and innovative storytelling and unique approach to fashion. This can seen in their BGC location, where ‘The Giant’ sits atop a destructed architectural reinterpretation of Frederik Heyman’s 3D artwork, making a striking statement. The art installations inside the store provide a stark contrast to the storefront, offering a one-of-a-kind retail experience.
What’s behind the name Gentle Monster? In an interview, Kim says ‘Gentle’ represents humble and wearable designs, while ‘Monster’ symbolizes attitude and uniqueness. The brand caters to Asian beauty standards, highlighting petite heads and faces, achieved through oversized, bold frames. The brand also provides a more comfortable fit for Asian faces, which often have lower nose bridges.
Gentle Monster’s eyewear is characterized by its creative and quirky designs. Its eyewear often features unique, unconventional shapes and materials, as well as artistic elements. These designs may incorporate futuristic aesthetics, bold color gradients, and intricate embellishments like crystals, setting them apart from traditional sunglass frames.
It often collaborates with fashion designers and artists to create limited-edition and unique collections. These distinctive designs set it apart from more traditional eyewear brands. Over the past years, the Korean eyewear brand has created buzz through its collaboration with leading fashion brands like Fendi, Alexander Wang, Marine Serre, Ambush, Coperni, Moncler, and most recently with Maison Margiela.
A-list celebrities have also been seen wearing the eyewear such as Jennie from Blackpink, DJ Diplo, Chinese singer Cai Xukun (known as Kun), Korean actor Ahn Hyo-seop and even influential online video game phenomenon, World of Warcraft.
Among the local celebrities seen at the Philippine launch donning their favorite Gentle Monster glasses include Anne Curtis, Arci Muñoz, BJ Pascual, Raymond Gutierrez, Chie Filomeno, James Reid, Kylie Versoza, Liza Soberano, Megan Young, Yassi Pressman, Solenn Heussaff, and Sarah Lahbati.
The brand would like to inform its Filipino fans that Gentle Monster Manila as well as Gentle Monster’s official global e-commerce platform (www.gentlemonster.com) are the only official suppliers of authentic Gentle Monster products in the Philippines. Any Gentle Monster products sold outside of the official retailers mentioned on the website or at values lower than the official recommended retail pricing should raise concerns regarding their authenticity.
Store is open between 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.