The teenage years and early adulthood are often marked by exploration. It is a time when young people begin shaping their identity through the things they love, from hobbies and interests to the clothes they wear. While the fashion market offers countless brands to choose from, there are moments when what is available simply does not feel personal enough. For Sophia Dolor, that realization came early.

At just 15 years old, Sophia decided to create something of her own. In 2020, during the pandemic, she launched Phia The Label, a clothing brand rooted in her personal style, memories, and values. Now 21 and currently taking up BS Applied Corporate Management at De La Salle University, Sophia looks back at the beginnings of her brand as a leap of faith driven more by instinct than by a detailed plan.

“I just did it on a whim,” she shared in an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “I have very supportive parents who push me to do whatever I want. So I just learned everything myself.”

From the beginning, Sophia wanted Phia The Label to stand for something specific in the local fashion scene. Her goal was to create pieces that were sustainable, well-made, and globally relevant while remaining proudly local. Every garment under the label is made using natural materials such as 100 percent cotton or 100 percent silk, and all pieces are produced locally in the Philippines.

For Sophia, this approach is about offering something meaningful to the youth market. “It’s something for the youth that is good for the environment and supports the locals,” she explained.

The brand’s identity is closely tied to Sophia’s own story. In fact, the name itself comes from her childhood nickname. Friends and family have always called her Phia, a name that now represents the label she built from the ground up.

She describes the brand using three words: sweet, nostalgic, and comfortable, qualities that reflect both her personal style and the spirit of her designs. Rather than following fast-moving fashion trends, Sophia prefers to create pieces rooted in personal experiences. One of her recent collections, for example, was inspired by a school exchange term she spent in France, where she observed how women in Paris dressed.

This personal approach has helped Phia The Label connect with customers who appreciate authenticity.

Running a business at a young age, however, came with challenges. One of the biggest was learning to manage the many responsibilities that come with entrepreneurship beyond the creative process.

“When you start a business, and you’re a sole proprietor, you wear every hat,” she explained. “You have to do the operations, the accounting, the legal. You can’t just be creative if you want to run a business.”

Despite the steep learning curve, Sophia pushed through by teaching herself the skills needed to keep the brand running. Over time, she learned how to balance creativity with the practical side of running a company. For Sophia, this transparency helps build a sense of community.

“People know me, and they know my staff because they see us behind the scenes,” she said. “It feels more personal.”

As someone who started her brand at a young age, Sophia also hopes to challenge the idea that businesses should only be built around what is currently popular. She believes long-term success comes from building something that reflects personal passion rather than simply chasing trends.

“Business is more successful when it comes from something that you personally love and personally use,” she said.

For young readers who dream of starting their own brand one day, Sophia’s advice is simple: Do not wait until everything feels perfect.

“You will never be 100 percent ready,” she said. “But if you have that drive to be an entrepreneur, you should listen to it.”

For Sophia, the best place to start is by looking inward—the best way to stand out is by making everything personal and intentional. “Build from your own life rather than just looking at what’s trending,” she said.

What began as a spontaneous idea during the pandemic has since grown into a brand that reflects Sophia’s story, creativity, and values. Through Phia The Label, she continues to share pieces of her life while encouraging other young people to trust their own ideas and start where they are.