SSI celebrates 30 years with the country’s most #PassionForward
Passion has been the driving force of Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) Group, the leading luxury retailer in the Philippines. For 30 years, the company has tirelessly worked on bringing the best of lifestyle to the country through its curated selection of brands from all over the world. From being a retail company, SSI has evolved into a tastemaker and curator for Filipinos—a multi-faceted provider of diverse merchandise reaching a broader market and influencing the lifestyles and preferences of the many.
As it celebrates a new milestone, SSI has launched the “The Curated Life” campaign earlier this year; with the aim to inspire, enable, indulge, and rally its consumers to pursue a life well-lived. More than just a campaign, The Curated Life is anchored on passion in particular, for living to the fullest and striving only for the best.
SSI moves forward and elevates the definition of enhancing lives as the company brings together over 30 individuals—diverse purveyors from various industries—who continue to share in their vision, those who live the curated life as well as champion it through creativity, ingenuity, and commitment to their craft. Whether it be in advocacy, art, business, design, fashion, lifestyle, or social enterprise, these individuals put their passions forward and inspire today’s generation in ways that exceed expectations, always pushing boundaries and elevating the Filipino lifestyle to a class of its own.
To capture the essence of the company’s mission through its #PassionForward campaign and featured personalities—who just like SSI are forging new paths to the curated life—SSI has collaborated with renowned author and lifestyle journalist, AA Patawaran, who shared his literary prowess to tell the story of passions.
In his essay, AA quips, “Beyond retail, the specialty stores opened up a universe of possibilities not only to shoppers but also to passersby who, even without any intention of buying, might have had the impression that here, under our little patch of sky, the whole wide world was suddenly within reach.”
He adds, “What unites all the varying specialty and lifestyle concepts under the SSI Group is their ability to elevate taste, amplify desire, awaken aspiration, and empower the drive for self-actualization.”
The launch of the #PassionForward campaign will also showcase a photo exhibit by recognized industry photographers Mark Nicdao, Kai Huang, and Cyrus Panganiban, together with photographer hobbyists Kyla Olives, and film director Paul Soriano.

 
#PassionForward Personalities: 
Business
Mariana Zobel de Ayala
Armie Jarin-Bennett
Ernest Cu
Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat
Kevin Tan
Steven Tan
Annette Gozon Valdes
Fashion
Nicole Andersson
Heart Evangelista-Escudero
Tricia Gosingtian-Gabunada
Tessa Prieto Valdes
Beauty
Aryanna Epperson
Rissa Mananquil Trillo
Art
Sofia Zobel Elizalde
Paulina Luz Sotto
Trickie Lopa, Dindin Araneta, and Lisa Periquet
Design
Kenneth Cobonpue
Lesley Mobo
Royal Pineda and Budji Layug
Home & Entertainment
Mia Borromeo
Stephanie Zubiri Crespi
Happy Ongpauco-Tiu
Lifestyle
Irene Martel Francisco
Millet Mananquil
Thelma Sioson San Juan
Social Enterprise
Krie Lopez
Paloma Urquijo Zobel
Advocacy
Angelo and Mariglo Laririt
Joel Palma
Senator Sonny and Tootsy Angara
Food
JP Anglo
Bruce Ricketts

Putting passions forward has been an SSI advocacy through the years, and it continues in this tradition by maintaining partnerships with industry leaders and trendsetters who shape the Filipino style and lifestyle for the better, including showcasing new talents who are driven by passion, whether for service, community, fashion, business, or the arts. With #PassionForward, SSI champions The Curated Life by inspiring every Filipino to choose well, be better, and live a life well-lived—a life that’s well-curated.
In the words of AA Patawaran, “This year, the SSI Group celebrates thirty years of knowing what matters to the Filipino consumer, thirty years of curating life of passion for the Filipino. It invites you to celebrate the milestone by living your very own curated life.” He adds, “It’s making life better and better still by rallying more of us to put our passions forward and to curate our every moment with the things and the thoughts that will bring to us the best life we can imagine.”