FOR outdoor and sports activities, a reliable and solid active gear is always a good companion.
There’s a wide selection of well-known global sportswear brands for every sports enthusiast but it is always better to buy local - a local brand that adheres to the principles of quality and affordability.
Providing these services is Bagani Active Gear, a homegrown sportswear brand which started in late 90’s. The local brand’s product line includes trekking and hiking backpacks, school bags, life jackets and outdoor apparel.
“Bagani Active Gear was created because of friends who are into adventures, mostly night trekking. The business was in on-and-off state because of some uncontrolled problems that come with a group set up in business but since 2015, it is now stable,” Wendell Cernal, co-owner of Bagani Active Gear, said.
The brand’s name is inspired by Bagani Bagobo tribe’s warrior guard. Bagobo is one of the 11 recognized tribes in the city.
The brand also caters corporate giveaways with customized designs to businesses which are staging sports events.
Bagani, located at Madrazo compound, Bangoy Street, Davao City, is the supplier of Basecamp Rafting and Davao Wild Water Adventure life jackets. It is also one of the major sponsors of this year’s Samal50 trail marathon last October 14 and 15 in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.
The brand’s products are made in the city but all raw materials are sourced from Manila and abroad.
“What makes us special is that before we launch our new designs, we first conduct multiple field tests, we evaluate the product thoroughly before we release it to the market,” he said citing the hydro vest used in Samal50 which undergone series of field tests before coming up with a final design that would satisfy the event’s clients.
Bagani’s products are sold for as low as P250 to P3,000 depending on the designs and the materials used.
“Our ultimate vision is for Bagani Active Gear to be known by the public, that they would have an impression that if it’s Bagani it is synonymous to quality. We would like everyone to know that this is a Davao-made product,” Cernal said.
With the local brand, Cernal said, the client using the product will feel like an outdoor warrior, a true Bagani.