They say “experience is the best teacher.” A person learns their capacity and preferences by going through something than by just reading or being taught about it. For example, you wouldn’t know which best outfit to wear unless you haven’t had the experience of donning several—from decent to worst.
Edrin Panganiban has worn virtually all kinds of jerseys and shorts playing basketball. After all, he started early—at Grade 3. The worst one he had put on? “Yung parang sakong binutasan lang. Sobrang uncomfortable; ang luwag sa body, ang sikip ng arm holes. (It was like a plastic straw sack fashioned into a jersey uniform. It was extremely uncomfortable; the body part was loose, and the arm holes were tight),” he told Manila Standard in a one-on-one interview.
It was this former basketball league player-turned-startup business owner’s first-hand experience with athletic apparel that motivated him to create STATS, his sportswear label, which was actually his thesis in college. He took Entrepreneurship at Southville International School and Colleges Manila.
He might not had won the Best Thesis award, but he got something just as good, if better: a thriving brand that offers quality and functional activewear made of local materials.
It all started with a pair of shorts
Panganiban founded STATS in 2016 equipped with motivation, experience, and basic design know-how.
“I started with custom wear, during which I made a pair of jersey shorts with pockets,” the 29-year-old entrepreneur related. “Nilagyan ko ng pockets because I noticed after ng liga, yung mga players ibinibigay na yung shorts kasi di na magagamit since impractical; wala man lang pockets. (I put pockets because I noticed after every basketball league, the players returned their shorts because they were impractical to use again since they didn’t have pockets).”
The simple added feature in the trousers launched STATS into a full-fledged RTW label.
“When I added pockets, I noticed they used it after,” he enthused.
Panganiban clarified, however, the pockets were not put senselessly, just for the sake of having little sacks where wearers can put their keys or phones.
“They were made using one whole fabric so they would not break easily, and they have small holes—which are small enough to let water out when you’re using it for swimming, but big enough that small items like earrings won’t fall out.”
Panganiban also put smart overlapping slits on the sides of the shorts that allow better, unrestrained movement. “They’re straight when you’re standing up, but when you squat, they expand. They don’t restrict your movements,” he explained.
After several design tweaks, come the Blade shorts, currently STATS’ bestselling product.
“Prior to this, I didn’t have a background in design, that’s why I was surprised when they liked the product,” Panganiban said with a boyish smile.
In fact, when he was starting his company, he shared, he did almost everything, except cutting and sewing. “I did the design, I took the photos, I handled our social media, and sometimes I even delivered orders.”
From a staff of three, STATS now has 10. Panganiban happily reported he now has a designer helping him.
Smart sportswear
Practical features and functions have won the hearts of many STATS’ loyal patrons. The label is currently the official outfitter of UP Fighting Maroons and supplier of the university game shirts worn by students.
You see, Panganiban said he wanted, from day one, to create activewear that actually made sense.
“I focus on functions and features, my designs are simple,” he proudly admitted. “Gusto ko yung gamit maraming functions, at least may second function siya (I want everything to have multiple functions, or at least a second function).”
Panganiban said all STATS apparel could be worn for multiple activities, as the company name suggests: Sports, Training, Athleisure, Technology, and Swimming. This means the clothes, from the active tee to the sports bra, to the leggings, to the bestselling shorts can be worn for various sports activities or outside the gym/court.
Or as he put it, “You only have one pair of shorts but it covers 80 percent of your activities—you can use it for swimming, outdoor activities, indoor sports, and more.”
Premium can be affordable and made locally
STATS focuses more on the real and essential—putting premium on function and continuous research and development—and less on superficial elements such as tags and packaging.
The local brand offers products on par with those from more popular and established global sportswear labels. It uses locally sourced premium blend polyester fabric, which, by the way, Panganiban said, was much better than the old Dri-Fit technology.
“Premium blend polyester fabric is moisture-wicking, which means it dries faster and does not stink; and it’s lightweight and more comfortable but durable,” he explained.
Aside from using local materials, he keeps prices down by manufacturing locally. STATS also does away with fancy packaging, and it currently operates online, available only on Facebook (STATS Performance Apparel) and Instagram (@statsph). Panganiban plans to join pop-ups in the last quarter of the year to further promote the company.
Prices range from P700-1,800, or about 30-50 percent less than international sportswear brands.
Even its models are “real” people, too—ordinary individuals who lead an active lifestyle and have grown to love the brand.
Behind the startup is Januarius Holdings, Inc., the investment and asset management company of businessman JJ Atencio, which focuses on developing startups and SMEs like STATS.
“What we like about STATS is that it is essentially athletic apparel designed by athletes who know what kind of apparel athletes need to wear for better performance in the areas of material, design, stitching, and quality,” Atencio said in a statement.
He added, “And then there’s the creative twist of crossing over to leisure wear that makes the sports apparel practical, functional, and appealing to a wider market.”
