Last night was awesome (that's a couple of days ago).
If you're a guy like me who often frequent department stores to buy shirts and formal wear, you've probably heard of brands like SAHARA, WallStreet, Criterion, Ultimo, CEO Plus, Arrow, Van Heusen, IZOD and ESPADA. Little did we know that these brands actually came from the same company. This is CEO Group, and they are celebrating their 40th year in the business.
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/823/42160228111_3c28fea52b_z.jpg)
The lovely husband and wife who founded the company in 1978 Mr. Benito and Madame Huy Kun Lim took the stage and told us about their humble beginnings. Starting with popular brand SAHARA which he even wore that evening. I honestly felt like the company had their history involved in the lives of Filipino men as they have been furnishing shirts, formal wear since then. I distinctly remember my Dad introducing me to this kind of clothing, which he oftenly wears to work and I'd imagine having them even at a young age. Through the years, they also started to come out with other brands WallStreet, Criterion, Ultimo, CEOPlus, Arrow, Van Heussen, IZOD and ESPADA. I started wearing them during college, then at work, up til now. I thought I was jumping through competition because I often switch with Van Heussen and Arrow, I didn't know they actually came from the same company. Imagine that!
To start off the festivities, they had us enjoy a full fashion show showcasing the current designs they carry for the brands and even had some of their past models (retired athletes) walk too wearing the exact same shirts they wore during the 80's, which was remarkable because they didn't look old.
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/908/41439497334_bea0e21f08_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/951/41439494924_5a02a02474_z.jpg)
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![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/960/42160216411_cfcb55efda_z.jpg)
The shirts all looked amazing, it fits right that you can carry it well even without a coat.
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/963/41439488914_c58914c03d_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/966/42160214291_deb1a34997_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/944/41439486044_b32193a52c_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/965/42160212861_35c815fcf1_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/909/41439481934_77d4486848_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/963/28287782078_19d2fcc35f_z.jpg)
I love this so much I'll look for it in their store. I've always wanted to wear a blue number in events and this fits the bill.
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/980/41439478914_6e8b72c3c5_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/910/28287780548_46f7600d2b_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/968/42160206141_83bac34f44_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/967/28287778588_8e9f18f4ce_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/982/41259138175_1a855d8f62_z.jpg)
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![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/40353203330_4bd2d8131f_z.jpg)
It doesn't really have to be expensive, the things you see here are all RTW but looked so good on the runway, much like a designer would actually make it.
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/946/28287766348_56396a3f62_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/28287764568_c891ca5112_z.jpg)
From the colorful, to the classics, they've got about anything that you would need for that perfect occassion. They've been doing this for years!
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/28287762408_b41a59a759_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/966/42113644032_55ba233c00_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/27288685857_91e84a1c5a_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/823/42160186721_234b23855a_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/903/41259114485_673831c8bd_z.jpg)
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![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/42160179871_64da565ec4_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/972/42160178341_9d6d4d9042_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/946/42160175741_ec3dd0a801_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/972/27288680177_df30d69b03_z.jpg)
![CEO Group 40 Years](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/907/42160172061_53160a5210_z.jpg)
Now this isn't the end of an era but a beginning of an even greater promise to Filipino men all over the country that YOU WILL be dressed appropriately the next time you get another shirt, coat, trousers from the company that has got the most trusted brands under their wings. Judging from what we saw that evening, it remains true, I wouldn't want to see our gents dressing up lousy in the next years, and the family has taken their members in the operations so you're sure you get what you fashionably deserve the next time you visit their stores or get one off the shelves of leading department stores througout the country.
Congratulations to the whole CEO Group! You've made your mark, and still creating a legacy for fine clothing - all for the Filipino.