Cover A selection of items up for grabs at the Malbon Golf flagship store (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
A selection of items up for grabs at the Malbon Golf flagship store (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
1 / 1
Just a day before Malbon Golf held its grand opening in the Philippines last March 28, Tatler sits down for an interview with co-founder Erica Malbon
Country clubs, sprawling greens and an air of exclusivity—those are the elements typically and universally associated with golf. But Malbon Golf, the contemporary fashion and lifestyle brand whose identity is centred around the gentleman’s game, is set to leave an indelible mark on the Philippines’s golf scene. At the head of its operations are Los Angeles-based couple Stephen and Erica Malbon, whose mission is to make the sport more accessible to a younger and more style-conscious demographic.
The team are steadily settling into their new flagship location situated on the ground floor of Shangri-La the Fort and just across the street from the foot traffic-heavy Bonifacio High Street. Co-founder Erica is fresh off the plane from Los Angeles. Her husband Stephen was set to join her, but a delayed flight from LAX meant she was representing Malbon solo for this interview. He would later arrive just in time for the store’s grand opening the next day.
More from Tatler: What should you wear for tee time? 5 golf clothing brands to know
Above A portrait of Malbon Golf co-founder Erica Malbon (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
Above A portrait of Malbon Golf co-founder Erica Malbon (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
A portrait of Malbon Golf co-founder Erica Malbon (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
1 / 2
For Erica, golf was always an integral part of her identity. This new venture is one particularly close to her heart. The daughter of a Filipino father and an American mother, she spent several years of her childhood in Manila before moving back stateside. Returning to the Philippines with Malbon is quite a meaningful milestone.
“My dad was a big golfer, so every trip we took was centred around where there was gold and how we could play it,” she reminisces. She also recalls taking lessons as a child. Stephen shared a similar upbringing, having grown up on a golf course with parents who were avid players.
Despite their deep roots in golf, both Erica and Stephen drifted away from the sport in their teenage years, when it was “no longer seen as cool.” But when they became parents, they found themselves drawn back into the game. Only did they realise there were limited options for golf apparel that combined style with function. It was this gap in the market that led to the creation of Malbon Golf, a youthful, technicoloured contemporary brand that merges culture and design tailored for the 21st century.
Above An installation inside the Malbon Golf flagship store (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
Above Apparel pictured inside the Malbon Golf flagship store (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
An installation inside the Malbon Golf flagship store (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
1 / 2
The brand is not the first of its kind to draw inspiration from sports. There’s Ralph Lauren, for example, who has long incorporated equestrian and golf elements into fashionable garments. Malbon endeavours to take it a step further, as Erica emphasises that their pieces are not just inspired by golf, but actually functional on the course.
“A lot of fashion brands take inspiration from different sports, but they don’t prioritise function. Malbon is about both,” she explains. “You can wear our pieces on the course, but they’re also designed for everyday life.”
You can spot this duality reflected in the brand’s retail spaces, described more as “community spaces” rather than simply stores. Manila’s newly launched flagship store designed by Los Angeles architect Dean Levin, a friend of the couple, embodies this philosophy. The result is a contemporary social club complete with a golf simulator and a lounge area.
See also: Alex Eala makes tennis history as first Filipino to defeat a top-10 opponent at Miami Open
Above These selections from Malbon Gold are not just inspired by golf, but actually functional on the course (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
Above The retail space also includes a state-of-the-art golf simulator (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
These selections from Malbon Gold are not just inspired by golf, but actually functional on the course (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
1 / 2
“We love design, architecture, and creating experiences,” says Erica. “Each of our stores has its own unique touch, inspired by its local surroundings, but still stays true to the Malbon identity.”
The apparel should be missed as well—a blend of streetwear elements with a tongue-in-cheek mid-century aesthetic. “We’re very inspired by art and what’s happening in culture, especially music. All of that comes forward in our collections and all of the products.”
She is also open to exploring collaborations with local big-name brands in the Philippines. “I’d love to do a San Miguel collaboration,” she enthuses. “It’s such an iconic brand and there’s this unique authenticity in having a drink while you’re playing!” Their portfolio already includes major heavy-hitters like Adidas, Formula One and Coca-Cola.
Above Details from inside the Malbon Golf flagship store (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
Above Aside from apparel, Malbon Golf also sells equipment perfect for a day out on the greens (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
Details from inside the Malbon Golf flagship store (Photo: Kryss Rubio)
1 / 2
With golf steadily growing in popularity among young Filipino players, the brand’s presence in the country is bolstered by local athletes, including top golfers Jason Day and Bianca Pagdanganan, who serve as ambassadors.
As Malbon continues to gain momentum in the country’s golf scene, its vision remains clear: to build a community that respects the game’s timelessness in a way that is accessible and inviting. This is also being achieved through the launch of a local chapter of Buckets Club, an initiative of Stephen and Erica’s centred around a collective of gold enthusiasts who come together to play and connect.
“The heritage of the game is something we respect, but we want to usher that into the future,” Erica explains. “If we can continue getting people interested in the fame through fashion, community and events, that’s what’s going to grow the sport and bring it forward.”
NOW READ
Game, Set, Match: Why Alex Eala is the future of Filipino tennis
Ho Nguyet Minh of Majesty Golf Vietnam: fearless on the fairway
From track to tech: Meet Mench Dizon, the marathoner pushing a digital future for Filipinos
About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
