From Sahara to Wall Street to 7 more - CEO Group of Companies 40th!

The CEO Group of Companies celebrates its 40 years in business

It wasn’t that long time ago when I found myself standing inside a department store looking for that 1 piece I would need to wear for my job interview. Back then, the internet is still too young to consult too about how to wear clothes properly, that the pages of the magazine or a spread in the newspaper or a real human being are your only resources for a peg. I was still young back then, but I was striving to be a ready grown up man by starting to decide with the right clothes to wear. This was probably the time I was introduced to brands like Sahara and Wall Street.

Photo shot by Paul the PR Guy at District8

Fast forward to now, Sahara and Wall Street under the CEO Group is already celebrating their 40 years of existence. A little bit older than me (can you guess my real age?), 40 years is already a milestone for a brand in this kind of industry. Currently, the CEO Group of Companies, handles not just this two homegrown brands but also launched a brand catering to plus-size male professional called CEO PLUS. In 2005, they acquired local men’s wear brand CRITERION and created a brand specifically designed and manufactured for big and tall men they called ULTIMO in 2013. Aside from that, they also extended their line with some international brands like American brand ARROW, Thailand’s top fashion label ESPADA, IZOD and VAN HEUSEN.

I was lucky to have witness the celebration that was held in a popular gastropub and events venue District8. At the event I met the power couple Benito & Huy Kun Lim who heads The CEO Group of Companies. I really love that they went out table to table just to meet up with all of the guest. I could really feel their sincerity and humbleness.

Wearing a Sahara shirt, Mr. Ben willingly shared his inspiring story. Mr. Ben said that 40 years back, he only got Php 25,000 as a capital and would need to have Php 100k just to start the business. Through the help of his family, he was able to put up the right amount and started the garments business as suggested by one of his friend.

Starting out as a small manufacturing company in 1978, with little else beyond courage, perseverance, gut feel, and 10 second-hand sewing machines purchased from his future father-in-law, Benito began this business partnership with Huy Kun, then his fiancée.

“We began with a small-volume set-up producing ladies’ blouses, then eventually switched to school uniforms, which we sold to department stores under the brand name “Sahara.”

The power couple Benito & Huy Kun Lim

“I didn’t have my own car and the small staff we had was dedicated to production, so I needed to go and present our products, sell them, and make deliveries to department stores, which at that time, were relatively few and far apart,” Benito recounts.

Soon, they would diversify and focus on men’s staples.

“I have always been intrigued by the fashion industry, particularly men’s shirting. A dress shirt appears to be a very basic piece of clothing, but the crafting is complex, and it requires a lot of attention to detail. Besides, I personally like wearing well-made clothes, so I decided to learn how to make them,” he shares.

Their goal was to deliver products of outstanding quality and excellent value in order to penetrate the right market then, and it remains the same now in order to stay relevant and valued by their retail partners and customers

Currently, the company is still being run by the whole family.

The event was very simple and straight forward. The CEO Group caps its milestone celebration with a fashion show featuring the brands they have developed, established, and grown, and some of their past and current brand ambassadors, including photographer Nelwin Uy, sports anchor Migs Bustos, sports analyst Christian Luanzon, former ballers Patrick Franand, politician and entrepreneur Francis Zamora.