LOOK: The Paper Bunny opens in Manila—its first store outside Singapore
It's finally here! The Paper Bunny has officially opened in Manila—their first-ever international store outside of its home base in Singapore.
The brand’s iconic Puffer Swing bag famously sparked an intense craze among Filipinos, turning trips to the Lion City into pasabuy runs.
After testing the waters by launching a dedicated Philippine website last year (allowing those goods to be delivered straight to our doorsteps), The Paper Bunny has now taken the giant leap by opening their biggest store to date—a sprawling 1,666 square foot flagship in Uptown Mall.
"The Philippines has always held a special place in our hearts," The Paper Bunny co-founder Jaime Lee told PhilSTAR L!fe. "The community here has been so supportive and so warm for many years, and I think that when we were thinking about where to be out of Singapore, it was no question at all that the Philippines would be our first stop. Now that we are finally here, we're so excited that we can make this dream come true."
A different experience from its Singapore stores
The goal of the brand is to create more than just a retail counter, but a "lived-in atelier," a space for exploration and discovery. Lee says that while every physical store remains true to the brand's core identity, each one offers something "fresh and new."
For the first Filipino branch, they have tapped artist Leeroy New to create a life-sized installation of The Arc bags. It is made out of discarded local and TPB materials, "as a symbolic representation of the fusing of our two cultures, The Paper Bunny, Singapore, as well as Filipino craftsmanship, creativity, and heritage."
"We wanted it to be artistic and special for the Uptown store," Lee said.
It's all in the details
Walking in, your eyes immediately catch the details: the space is a striking balance between smooth, high-gloss surfaces and rich, raw textures.
On the entryway are custom-made sculptural pillars that blend rough, natural materials with graceful, smooth shapes.
The displays themselves are a work of craft, featuring hand-carved wooden elements and walls finished with hand-painted details.
There are rows and rows of their iconic handbags, as well as walls of stationery, reusable bags, pocket pouches, and other accessories.
To foster community and shared moments, the store unveils The Atelier—a special section dedicated to newness. This is a seasonal alcove designed for immersive brand experiences and showcasing curated product collections.
@philstarlife The wait is over! The Paper Bunny has landed in the Philippines and it's their first international store outside Singapore 🐰 Visit The Paper Bunny at Uptown Mall in BGC today. #ThePaperBunny #Uptownmall #BGC #fashion #lifestyle #philstarlife ♬ original sound - philstarlife
"It's just exciting for people when they come in, they are like stepping into a whole new world," Lee said.
"It's a place [where] they can pause, explore, and discover. Maybe they came in because they heard about the bags, right? They see on socials, on their friends, and they're excited to get something. But they also then get to explore and see all other products and find pieces that actually make sense to them," she continued.
