SM Group in Talks to Bring Swedish Clothing Brand to the Philippines

An H&M store at Festival Walk, Hong Kong

Heads up--SM Retail Inc., the retail arm of the SM Group of Companies, is currently in talks to bring in the global clothing brand Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) to the Philippines. 

As the talks are still in its early stages, it is still unclear when the clothing brand would actually open its first store in the country, though sources say that the possible location of the country's first H&M store will be at the new SM Aura Mall, an upscale development at the Bonifacio Global City which is scheduled to open in the middle of the year.

When this does happen, H&M will become the third clothing brand to be franchised by SM Retail, after Forever 21 which made its way to the country in 2010, and the Japanese brand Uniqlo, which first opened at the SM Mall of Asia in 2012. 

Update: More Cotton On Stores to Open in the Philippines This Year

Earlier this year, the teaser for the first Philippine store of the Australian clothing brand Cotton On was first spotted at the new Lucky Chinatown Mall at Binondo, Manila. This officially marks the entry of the fast-fashion clothing brand to the Philippine market, which is actually quite popular with the Filipino fashion-forward crowd. It was soon confirmed that the brand was brought to the Philippines courtesy of Suyen Corporation, the company behind the local clothing brand Bench, also responsible for bringing in a few other foreign brands. With the introduction of this brand to the Philippines, those who love this brand would no longer have to fly to places like Hong Kong or Singapore to get their fill of Cotton On clothing. 

Even before the first store opens at Binondo, more "soon to open" signs have been spotted at different malls in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Whether these stores would open all at the same time or one after the other is not sure yet, but here are the locations of the confirmed (or rumored) Cotton On stores in the country:

• Lucky Chinatown Mall
• Bonifacio High Street
• SM Bacoor
• SM Mall of Asia
• Trinoma
• SM Megamall

Cotton On was established in 1991 and has since opened over 800 stores in different locations worldwide, such as Malaysia, United States, and Singapore.

Vote and Win Awesome Prizes--Only from Uniqlo Philippines

Even before the scheduled opening of their first store at the SM Mall of Asia this June, Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo already aims to make itself known to the Philippine market. 

Until June 10, 2012, lucky Uniqlo fans may just get a chance to win prizes such as UT shirts or a trip to Japan for two with their "Uniqlo Vote and Win" contest. Here, 100 UT shirts will be given each week to anyone who would vote for their favorite design at the "Uniqlo Vote and Win" app at Uniqlo Philippines' official Facebook page. If ever a voted shirt becomes the most voted design, those who voted for that shirt may get a chance to win a trip for two to Japan. The number of winners selected would depend on the number of likes for the Uniqlo Philippines Facebook page. 

If you were not selected as a winner after voting for a certain design, don't worry--you may vote again after 24 hours, or you may share the app with your friends to get another chance to vote. Lucky winners of UT shirts may redeem their prizes at the Uniqlo redemption booth at the SM Mall of Asia on selected dates, indicated on the official Facebook page. 

For more information, visit the Uniqlo Philippines Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/uniqlo.ph