Cecilia Pagkalinawan

Bio:

Part of NY Tech 1.0 with K2, BoutiqueY3k, RichFX. Now CEO of StyleTrek. Co-founder MOUSE.

• Title: CEO, StyleTrek
• Age: 40
• Location: SoHo
• Contact: @ceciliany

In an interview with Pursuitist, you described StyleTrek as “ customer-centric company where we involve consumer feedback in every stage of the design and production process.” Can you give us a few examples of how a customer can get involved?

We get customers who we call StyleTrekkers involved from the beginning by involving them in our designer selections.  We've received over 500 submissions worldwide from fashion lovers who want to support and promote designers from their countries.  Once we select designers who are submitted, the StyleTrekkers receive a percentage of the designers sales.  We also query customers on their likes, preferences, etc. in order to determine which designers and fashions we should feature in upcoming seasons.  There is much we can do with technology to enhance the shopping and product selection process.  

You worked for several major fashion brands (Burberry and La Perla), and non-fashion brands (Sharper Image, Sports Authority). What did you learn that helped you most with StyleTrek?  

I learned that fashion, manufacturing, and selling to consumers is not an easy business.  There are many variables, factors, and issues which can affect how your brand is perceived and how much customers desire your products.  Consumer demand is driven by many factors including desire, culture, influences, and quality.  StyleTrek intends to support emerging designers with marketing, PR, and social media social media resources to promote their nascent brands, and provide them with an e-commerce platform that is accessible to customers in 91 countries.  Emerging designers can attract attention and customers through the use of technology that can help drive their visibility and sales and compete with bigger brands.

Who are your personal favorite designers?  

I love Phillip Lim, Catherine Malandrino, and designers on StyleTrek such as Nanushka from Hungary whose designs are similar to Alexander Wang, Trosman from Argentina does amazing work with leather and reminds me of Rick Owens, and Lie Sang Bong who has been called "Seoul's McQueen."

Any recommendations for women on places to shop in NYC?  

I enjoy walking among the small shops in Nolita and Lower East Side, as well as scouring vintage stores.  I try to support smaller shops and give business to local entrepreneurs.  Even when I travel, I try to find areas where local boutique stores are located so that I can discover something new and special.