2 visions under 1 roof: Patty Ang unites her brands
Make no mistake about it—Patton and Patty Ang may share the same designer, but each brand has its own distinct DNA. At the heart of both is Ang’s signature aesthetic, but how that translates into each collection is where the divergence begins.
Patton, the newer of the two brands, is all about versatility.
“What’s good with Patton is that you can really style it however you want, in so many ways—whether you need casual, like for dancing, or something more formal,” Ang told Lifestyle. “I think that’s what’s nice with Patton—it’s all kinds of basic, but you can really play around with it.”
In contrast, Patty Ang—the designer’s namesake label—leans more toward exclusivity and craftsmanship.
“Not everything is comfortable, by the way,” Ang said, laughing. “But at least you’re confident throughout your day and in everything you do.”
The made-to-measure pieces from Patty Ang are designed to make the wearer feel like they own something truly special. “Even with Patty Ang, we don’t make them in large quantities, para ikaw lang din ang mayroon.”
The challenge, of course, lies in ensuring each piece stays true to its respective brand. “That’s why sometimes, I find it hard to separate Patton from Patty Ang,” she admitted.
The main classifiers: materials and creative freedom. “With Patty Ang, I can play around more because there’s room to experiment. The other one, they would tell me, ‘You’re on a budget here.’ This one, I can be more creative—I can play with different textures, fabrics, beads, and appliqués.”
Milestone collaboration
One of the biggest milestones for Patton was its collaboration with American model-actress Emily Ratajkowski. But it wasn’t an overnight success.
“We were really looking for someone special to be the face of Patton, and it was a long process,” Ang revealed. “It took around two years to decide who would fit, and then to contact her and sign the contract. And then a year again after the shoot.”
Ratajkowski, known for her effortless street style, perfectly embodied the essence of Patton, said Ang.
“Although the brand is very gender-neutral, I wanted to start with a woman,” Ang explained. “If you see her on a daily basis, it’s also what she would wear. So, in terms of style, she fits Patton perfectly.”
Enter The Headquarters, the flagship store that brings both brands under one roof. (Patton currently has five permanent stores: Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall, TriNoma, and SM Aura.) More than just a retail space, The Headquarters is an experience designed to immerse clients in the world of Patton and Patty Ang.
“Of course, we want them to have that ‘wow’ factor when they step in,” Ang said. “We’re putting in different elements here. For example, for Patton clients, we have the hot press, which we’re keeping permanently here.”
The construction of The Headquarters (located at 3F, Jupiter Place, 136 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati City) took almost a year. With this move, Ang had to close the BGC store.
“This is not just a store; we also have our back office, studio, and everything else,” she said of the 900-sqm space. “Ever since I started my career 10 years ago, we’ve moved five times. Hopefully, this will be the last time.”
Stability
For Patton, The Headquarters is treated as another store, but for Patty Ang, it represents stability and expansion. Migs Almeda, Ang’s husband and business partner, highlighted how the brand’s growth demanded a bigger space. “As the brand grows bigger, so does the need for space,” he said. “Launching Emrata (Ratajkowski’s nickname) as an ambassador was a big hit for Patton. We also want to go international and push our boundaries. That means making a bigger team, expanding marketing, and increasing inventory as we ship out more goods.”
The Headquarters is now the command center for both brands, where teams collaborate seamlessly.
“The BGC office started to feel too small for our growing group,” Almeda said. “Now, our office set-up feels more like a campus. It’s free-flowing, unlike a traditional office where you just sit at your desk or eat in a pantry. Here, it’s more like a restaurant or food court, where different teams interact during breaks.”
With the brands’ growing presence both locally and internationally, e-commerce is also in the works.
“We’re dreaming of more,” Ang shared. “Our main target market is still Filipinos, and we’re proud to be a Filipino brand. But my dream is to put us on the fashion map globally.”
She firmly believes in the craftsmanship of Filipino designers. “Our products are high quality, and I think we can make it abroad. Whether it’s Patton’s ready-to-wear or Patty Ang’s custom pieces, we’re pushing for that.”
The brand recently placed pieces with K-pop superstar Jennie Kim. “That was a proud moment for us,” Ang said, referring to her recent Instagram post with the Blackpink singer wearing one of Patton’s tank tops. “And it just shows that Filipinos are really talented. We just need to push it.
She added: “We still have a lot of our stuff with her. Every time she performs, we wait to see if she’ll wear something of ours. It’s a 1-percent chance, but that’s still something! Timing is key—the perfect piece at the perfect moment, with the perfect creative direction.”
