South Korean online fashion platform Musinsa has entered an exclusive distribution agreement with ACX Holdings, a distribution affiliate of the Ayala Group in the Philippines, as it moves into the country's offline retail segment.
According to Seoul Economic Daily, the arrangement will see Musinsa establish a presence in the Philippine market and reach Filipino shoppers through ACX Holdings' existing distribution network and operational capabilities.
As part of the partnership, Musinsa will launch its first Musinsa Standard outlet in the Philippines at Glorietta mall in Makati, Manila, during the latter half of this year, taking its physical retail footprint into key commercial areas of the capital.
The move follows strong growth in the platform's existing Philippine business: transaction volumes at Musinsa Global Store in the country climbed by an average of roughly 50% annually between 2023 and 2025.
"The Philippines is a strategic market with strong growth potential, driven by young consumers with a high interest in Korean fashion brands”, a Musinsa official was quoted as saying.
“Building on our partnership with ACX Holdings, which has a deep understanding of the local market and strong retail operating capabilities, we will strengthen the brand competitiveness of Musinsa Standard and offer Filipino consumers a K-fashion experience.”
The Musinsa deal comes amid wider international retail activity in the Philippines.
In June, Marks & Spencer signed a fresh franchise agreement in the country with Indonesian company PT Mitra Adiperkasa (MAP), with the first outlet set to open at Glorietta before the end of this year.
That deal builds on a partnership between M&S and MAP stretching back more than 20 years, during which the Indonesian retailer has run the British brand's franchise operations in Indonesia and Vietnam.
Separately, South Korea's online retail share topped 60% for the first time in March.
Online retail made up more than half of total sales among South Korea's leading retailers in March, according to figures from the country's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Online platforms accounted for 60.6% of combined sales across the nation's distributors during the month, the first time the figure has passed the 60% mark since the ministry launched its monthly retail survey in June 2016.
