From its humble beginnings in 2020, Calliah Fashion has quickly risen to prominence on TikTok Shop and evolved into a well-loved local women’s fashion brand. Founded by Divine and McAnthony Aguilar, Calliah draws inspiration from their daughter and symbolizes beauty, strength, and individuality–values that are now reflected in their designs and business operations.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Calliah Fashion became one of the Top 20 Womenswear Sellers on TikTok Shop, driven by strong Self-LIVE GMV performance. Through their strategic use of TikTok Shop’s ACE Indicator System—Assortment, Content, and Empowerment—Calliah Fashion has built a successful e-commerce presence, driving substantial growth in just a few years.

Thriving with Assortment and Strategic Product Launches

Calliah Fashion’s journey on TikTok Shop has been powered by a carefully curated assortment of products that resonate with their audience. They gained significant traction with monthly exclusive releases, especially highlighted during campaigns like Buy Local, Shop Local, where they introduced compelling deals such as Buy 1 Get 1 offers and high-discount product listings. These moves helped boost their Shop Tab GMV significantly.

Their strategic product bundling also contributed to rapid growth. The Chinese New Year 3-Pax Shorts Bundle, for example, saw an incredible 333% year-over-year (YOY) GMV growth during the December 2024 Buy Local, Shop Local campaign, compared to the same period in 2023, as shoppers prepared for Chinese New Year 2025. This success is just one example of how Calliah’s ability to create thematic bundles quickly captured the attention of TikTok Shop users and became top-selling items during livestream events.

“Our brand has always been about empowering women to embrace their own style, and TikTok Shop has provided us with an incredible platform to do just that,” said Divine Aguilar, co-founder of Calliah Fashion. “The platform’s tools and the strong community of women on TikTok Shop have helped us reach new heights, especially with our exclusive product launches and bundles that truly resonate with our customers.”

Content-Driven Success: Livestreams and Affiliates

Content has been key to Calliah Fashion’s success on TikTok Shop. By strengthening their affiliate relationships and creating themed PR packages, the brand maximized the impact of livestreams and product features. Calliah’s livestreams gained notable traction during special events, including an exclusive collaboration with fellow Buy Local, Shop Local seller Josefina’s Kitchen, further elevating their visibility.

Through strategic use of TikTok Shop’s in-app resources and social media promotions, Calliah was able to amplify its reach. The result was a 17% increase in LIVE GMV in November 2024 and an even greater 49% increase in December 2024 during the Buy Local Gems feature. Their efforts in optimizing livestreams were mirrored in their Affiliate GMV, which saw an uplift of 100% in October 2024 and 165% in December 2024 as they tapped into their growing affiliate network.

“Calliah Fashion’s success on TikTok Shop is a testament to the power of authentic connections,” said Franco Aligaen, Marketing Lead of TikTok Shop Philippines. “By embracing livestreaming and exclusive product launches, they’ve built a strong community of empowered women, turning creativity into growth. We’re proud to support brands like theirs in shaping the future of Philippine fashion on TikTok Shop.”

Empowering Growth Through Learning and Leadership

Beyond product strategy and content, Calliah Fashion’s success is also a result of their commitment to personal and professional growth. Calliah Fashion was one of only two Philippine-based sellers invited to represent local craftsmanship at the ASEAN Business and Investments Summit in Laos in November 2024. This prestigious event gave the brand an opportunity to showcase its products to international organizations and world leaders, including Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Additionally, Calliah was featured in the #SarilingAtin docuseries on TikTok Shop, where they were able to promote their commitment to local craftsmanship and share their journey as a Filipino seller. These empowerment initiatives, coupled with their participation in campaigns and seminars, helped propel Calliah Fashion to achieve a remarkable 87% quarter-on-quarter growth, making them one of the fastest-growing womenswear brands on TikTok Shop in early 2025.

A Bright Future for Filipino Fashion

Calliah Fashion’s remarkable growth on TikTok Shop showcases how a local brand can leverage digital tools to connect with customers and scale rapidly. From their product assortment to content strategies and empowerment efforts, Calliah has become a prime example of how e-commerce can drive success for small businesses in the Philippines.

“Our journey is just beginning,” Aguilar added. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we know that with the support of TikTok Shop and the community we’ve built, the future is even brighter. We are excited to continue growing and empowering women through fashion.”

To discover more of Calliah Fashion’s latest styles, visit their official TikTok Shop page.

There’s this venue in Silang in Cavite that started referring to itself as “Little Bangkok”. And why not, when – in a compound – there are various Thai-related offerings, helmed by a Thai resto called Som Thai Silang Bypass.

@outragemag

Looking for #LGBTQ #thai #cheapeats in #Cavite? We checked Som Thai Silang Bypass to see if it's worth visiting

♬ original sound – outragemag

We checked it, and… how was it for us?

Una, this place is closer to Tagaytay than it is to Manila. So magbaon ng pasensiya at pera sa biyahe… considering that, yes, you have to allocate more time and monetary allocation for the gas and tolls just to check this place.

Ikalawa, the actual resto isn’t grand; it almost looks like a karinderya in the province. But then again, it reminds me of the micro and small entrepreneurs in rural parts of Thailand, where locals convert their houses into mini-restos for lunch and for dinner. Just don’t expect much when here.

Ikatlo, the service people were nice (e.g. they’d ask you if things are okay), but they were… slow (e.g. I had to approach the teller to pay the bill).

And lastly… the food; how was it for us?

• The Som Tam (papaya salad, ₱120 for the solo serving) was – in a word – malansa (fishy). There are different ways to prepare this, with some adding shrimp paste (bagoóng alamáng) or dried shrimps (hibi). But the version of Som Thai Silang Bypass tasted like it used fermented fish (bagoóng isdâ) from Pampanga. Now… if you’re familiar with Pampanga’s bagoong, you’d know what I mean when I say malansa.
• The Tom Yum seafood (₱291 for the solo serving) was, at least, malasa (tasty) and contained lots of seafood.
• The Pad Thai chicken (₱249 for the solo serving) was… tasteless. This is sorta disappointing because when a Thai resto can’t make a proper Pad Thai, you start to have doubts re authenticity.
• The Mango Duo (two pieces of half-cut fresh spring rolls + mango sticky rice + garlic mayo and peanut sauce, ₱265) is a cheaper way to get spring rolls and dessert. Nothing special here, but the mango slices used were really sweet.
• The Chicken Satay ((with peanut sauce and vinegar, ₱210) was bland. We were anticipating red curry (or massaman curry) or at least peanutty taste, but neither was noted. Even the peanut sauce did not taste peanutty.
• Be warned that the servings here are small – i.e. when they say “solo”, they’re serious in limiting you from sharing.
• Be warned, too, that some Thai condiments – e.g. tamarind paste – aren’t available. “Ubos na,” we were told.

If there aren’t other Thai restos in the area, Som Thai Silang Bypass should suffice. But this is Silang, a municipality in the Province of Cavite that has too many restos to count. So yeah… you can try if you want, and considering its limitations. Otherwise, let’s just discover more lafang venues.

Som Thai Silang Bypass is located along Bypass Road, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Cavite.

As a beloved Filipino childrenswear brand, Gingersnaps is embracing a new frontier through its partnership with TikTok Shop.

By leveraging TikTok Shop’s ACE Indicator System, which focuses on Assortment, Content, and Empowerment, Gingersnaps is able to maximize its reach to offer stylish, sustainable, and inclusive clothing for children, resonating with both local and global consumers.

Fusing Fashion with TikTok Shop’s Dynamic Platform

Since its launch on TikTok Shop in 2023, Gingersnaps has seen a 120% increase in product engagement and a 60% growth in online sales. The platform’s tools have allowed Gingersnaps to seamlessly blend entertainment with commerce, enabling the brand to showcase its unique clothing designs through engaging and interactive content.

“The partnership with TikTok Shop has been a transformative experience for us,” said Sabrina Uy, Creative Director of Gingersnaps. “Through the platform, we’ve been able to expand our product lines and connect with a wider audience in ways that go beyond traditional retail. It’s not just about selling clothes; it’s about sharing a lifestyle that resonates with today’s modern families.”

Diversifying Offerings to Foster Sustainable Fashion

Through its focus on Assortment, Gingersnaps has expanded its collection by 25%, offering a broader range of clothing that caters to a diverse audience. New product lines include everything from loungewear to special occasion outfits, with a focus on sustainable, eco-friendly designs. TikTok Shop’s platform enabled Gingersnaps to introduce exclusive promotions that contributed to a 40% increase in repeat customers.

By offering limited-edition items and collections tailored for modern mothers and kids, Gingersnaps has successfully engaged a growing market of Filipino families seeking high-quality, fashionable, and stylish clothing options.

Creating Engaging Content for Family-Oriented Fashion

TikTok Shop’s content creation tools have also empowered Gingersnaps to connect with customers dynamically. Fashion showcases in the form of short videos, have resulted in a 35% increase in brand awareness.

By capitalizing on this strategy, Gingersnaps has successfully engaged its loyal customer base, who have migrated to the platform. With forthcoming live styling sessions and influencer collaborations, the brand is well-positioned to attract both existing and new customers, who are looking for the brand’s distinctive blend of style, comfort, and sustainability.

“TikTok Shop has given us an avenue to bring our collections to life in ways we never imagined. The platform’s features make it easy for us to creatively showcase our products and highlight how they fit into our customers’ lives, helping us build stronger relationships with our audience,” Sabrina added. “It’s storytelling through fashion, and TikTok Shop’s tools make it possible.”

Harnessing Data to Enhance Customer-Driven Decisions

Through TikTok Shop’s Empowerment tools and data-driven insights, Gingersnaps has optimized its marketing campaigns, resulting in a 50% higher conversion rate for its promotional efforts. The data has also guided the brand’s launch strategies, ensuring that every campaign resonates with their audience of fashion-forward mothers and kids.

“Gingersnaps illustrates how a brand can harness the power of TikTok Shop to thrive in the digital age. By leveraging our ACE Indicator System, they’re not just expanding their product range; they’re also creating engaging content that resonates with modern families who prioritize style and sustainability. Our platform allows them to connect authentically with their audience, building a community around their fashion that feels relevant and accessible in everyday life,” said Jonah Ople, Fashion Category Lead, TikTok Shop Philippines

Paving the Way for a Future of Fashion and Empowerment

The future for Gingersnaps is filled with exciting possibilities as it leverages TikTok Shop’s dynamic platform to grow its presence both locally and globally. With plans to introduce even more versatile and sustainable clothing options, Gingersnaps aims to empower modern Filipino families through fashion that adapts to their lifestyle. As the brand continues to build on its legacy, it remains steadfast in delivering timeless pieces that blend comfort, style, and functionality for children everywhere.