Macy Lualhati has always been interested in fashion. The 31-year-old former bank employee grew up in the municipality of Taytay, also known as the garments capital of the Philippines, where her family used to run a clothing business back in the 1970s. So when she was able to launch her fashion brand, Pambahay MNL, it felt like a dream come true, she said.
Following this dream, however, has taken a lot of grit and persistence. Pambahay MNL launched in May 2020, during the peak of the pandemic, and it was difficult to find suppliers and couriers during the lockdown period.
“When we were shipping orders, we had to travel for an hour to another city, since there were only a few couriers at that time, and we had to stay in line for hours under the sun with face masks and shields on just to ship a few parcels,” Lualhati recalled. “But, happily, despite those challenges, we are thankful we started.”
Representing the Philippines’ garments capital
As the name suggests, Pambahay MNL initially focused on pambahay, or “home clothes” in Tagalog. The brand has since expanded its product range to include clothing for all genders and ages, offering timeless and classic pieces that bring together style and comfort.
“Our products are locally made in Taytay,” Lualhati said. “We want to be a good representative for our municipality, to show that we can create high-quality yet affordable clothing.”
Aside from designing every piece herself, Lualhati also hand-selects the fabric and handles all the samples before items are sent for production.
Thanks to its commitment to quality, the brand has been featured by various media outlets and has even won awards for business excellence. Still, for Lualhati, success boils down to one simple thing—the happiness of her customers. “That’s the meaning of success for me—seeing my designs happily and confidently worn by many.”
Growing visibly with Lazada
Since embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, Lualhati has benefited immensely from the support, reach, and resources of Lazada.
“I chose Lazada because I believe this platform is credible, just like how I wanted my brand to be positioned,” Lualhati said, explaining her decision to join the e-commerce platform shortly after launching Pambahay MNL. “Lazada helped me reach more people here in the Philippines because it’s one of the top online selling platforms and it’s also trusted.”
As a Lazada seller, Lualhati has leveraged the platform’s many tools to boost traffic and sales. For example, she’s participated in many of Lazada’s mega campaigns, which she says have been instrumental in helping grow her brand’s visibility. During the recent 6.6 Super Wow Sale, Pambahay MNL also tapped into Lazada’s Social Seller Package, a barter program that gives participating sellers campaign placements and priority, which helped improve the store’s gross merchandise value by 40 percent compared to the March Month-end Mega Sale.
Having experienced firsthand the benefits of selling online, Lualhati encouraged fellow entrepreneurs to embrace and explore e-commerce and the different digital innovations that are provided by platforms such as Lazada.
“The biggest advantage of running an online business is global reach. Today, with just one reel, you can reach millions of people,” she said. As such, she reminded other sellers to “take advantage of the internet, be visible, keep on posting, increase product awareness, advertise and engage with your customers.”
Looking ahead, Lualhati wants to continue growing Pambahay MNL and has aspirations to introduce her products to overseas consumers as well. Even though there may be challenges ahead, she knows that she can achieve this dream if she remains passionate and persistent.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is that hindi araw araw Pasko (not every day is Christmas), but also it won’t rain forever. You just have to be consistent,” she said. “There will always be good days and bad days.”
Get cozy and chic with Pambahay MNL every Fashion Fridays on Lazada! Score up to 50 percent off vouchers through LazLook, with fresh new arrivals daily and easy, hassle-free returns!
To start and grow your business, sign up to #SellonLazada: https://sellercenter.lazada.com.ph/apps/register/index