IN LINE with its thrust to realign itself as a major trendsetter in the local lifestyle footwear and apparel scene and further expand its reach, The Athlete’s Foot (TAF) opened its latest store at Ayala Malls Vertis North in Quezon City.

Opened on Dec. 7, The Athlete’s Foot at Vertis North is the third to open this month following those at Vista Mall Bataan and in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, taking its total number of stores nationwide to 17 shops.

TAF officials said the newly launched Vertis North branch highlights the shift from sports apparel to lifestyle-centered fashion choices, including sneaker culture, streetwear, and athleisure fashion.

It is a direction that has paid off especially in the Philippines, the people behind the store said, where the sneaker culture continues to gain momentum and grow.

“The Athlete’s Foot is the original sneaker store in the United States. And now, as sports is becoming an important part of fashion, TAF is transitioning to support the everyday young adult who is into sneakers, basketball, running, and lifestyle,” Jose Cervero, Marketing and Merchandising manager for The Athlete’s Foot, said during the store launch.

“We are proud to say that we are really trying to cater to men and women. Most sneaker stores are very masculine, and through our new stores, we try to be more balanced. We want our stores to speak to both men and women,” he added.

Found at the TAF store in Ayala Malls Vertis North are a number of reintroduced collections and highly coveted footwear that are sure to excite enthusiasts and collectors.

The Athlete’s Foot’s private streetwear collection is also available at the branch.

Opening at the Vertis North area is also something that Mr. Cervero said they always wanted to do, seeing it as a prime place to make their presence felt north of the metro.

“We are really excited about the prospect of this mall. We’ve been itching to open in Quezon City, and Vertis is the perfect place to start in the North,” he said, even as he pointed out that they are set to open more stores in key areas of Metro Manila and in other parts of the country.

Mr. Cervero went on to say that e-commerce is something they want to continue to tap into so more customers have access to their rare and quality items.

“We want to serve the sneaker needs of Filipinos nationwide,” the TAF official said.

For more information about The Athlete’s Foot, check out http://www.theathletesfoot.com/. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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