Titan, Katipunan

by Mikey Raymundo

“Our name instantly conjures up images of all things huge and magnificent. Of beings larger than us. Gigantic. Epic.”

   November 2011 saw the opening of another specialty shoe store (this time, with an interesting twist) along Katipunan avenue. Titan is 15-year professional PBA player Jeffrey Cariaso’s venture in the retail business. The first Titan opened in 2010 at the Fort or what is now the Bonifacio Global City. Currently, there are three Titan branches in the country, one in Bonifacio Global City (the flagship store), another in Ronac Art Center, Ortigas and the last one being in the Regis Center, Katipunan. Something that makes Titan Katipunan different is, with its proximity to the Ateneo de Manila University, it offers t-shirts oriented towards students and fans of the Blue Eagles. This Ateneo-inspired apparel works well with the rest of the basketball gear Titan specializes in. What really makes Titan unique, however, is not much the market it caters to but the service it offers: haircuts for men.

Titan appeals to fans of everything basketball. Athletic gear, t-shirts, shorts, pumps: all these blend well to make a winning formula for collectors of rare shoes and your casual basketball fans. The store offers the freshest apparel and accessories from mostly Nike and Jordan Brand. It also markets shoes from Puma, adidas, Reebok, Converse, And 1, Meister and New Era. With these brands on Titan’s list, I don’t how a basketball enthusiast would pass up the chance not to go here. Oh, and let’s not forget that Titan is also a barbershop. That’s right, guys can get haircuts for 200 pesos while reading the latest SLAM! Magazine featuring who else but Meta World Peace on the cover. Shoes and haircuts, it’s an unusual combination but it’s one that seems to attract more and more customers each day.

The Katipunan branch is located on the third floor of the Regis Center. Beside Riovana, these two shops make up a one-two punch for anyone looking for a new pair of shoes, be it lifestyle or athletic. Titan Katipunan’s exterior exudes a real basketball-oriented feel. The words, “For love of the game” are stenciled on the front glass panes. Beside the store’s logo, a glowing barber’s pole (the white pole with red and blue stripes that descend in an endless loop) can be found, suggesting what the shop is all about. Inside, a sleek wooden finish to the floor gives the customer a vintage vibe, which works well to complement the products. Shoes cover the entire walls of the store, be it the 20 plus Jordan Brand basketball kicks or the newest Nike has to offer. The number of shoes is overwhelming and it effortlessly makes Titan a haven for basketball fans. Let’s not forget the barbershop portion of the store, which contains two vintage barber chairs and modernist style mirrors. Coupled with a magazine rack with only the best basketball magazines, the barbershop works hand-in-hand with the shoes to give the customer a different experience.

 

Titan is the freshest store to come along Katipunan avenue in a long while. If you’re into basketball or you want to try out a new hairstyle, Titan is the store for you.

For more info, go to http://www.titan22.com