When he started his sports apparel business two decades ago, Filipino businessman Joel Cu felt that the only way to produce a world-class product is to penetrate the international market.
After suffering birth pains during his early years, Cu went on to make his mark in the United States and Australia.
As he established himself as a major player overseason, Cu decided to shift his attention back to his home country to cater to the needs of the basketball-loving Filipinos.
Cu’s Team Rebel Sports is the Philippines’ newest uniform maker which promises clients world-class yet affordable sports apparel.
“We’re coming back in the local market. Nawala kami for so many years. Nasa US kami, then nag-Australia, but another brand. We supplied other brands also from US. Yung Team Rebel Direct, that’s our store sa US,” Cu told InterAksyon.
There were struggles along the way, according to Cu as the group took off on their own, relying on their small capital.
“We started in the local market, 1998. Parang Botak siya, customized, rubberized lang. Then we became a ready to wear apparel sa Toby’s. Ginawa namin yung factory sa Antipolo without loans and everything, we were drained out. Nag-down kami. Now, we studied export. Dahan-dahan naming inuulit yun,” added Cu.
To produce world-class customized uniforms, Cu believes they need to invest on Class A materials. They also need to strengthen their manpower to meet the demands of the international market.
“If you say apparel, full customized uniform yan. Ang importante kasi sa uniporme, yung service. Yun ang meron kami. Yung speed kasi minsan, ora-orada tayo eh. Dito, sa local market, we’re very demanding. 10 days, minsan, seven days, gusto uniporme na, which we are capable of. Sa tela, sa fabrics, kung yun ang pag-uusapan, makikita mo mayroon kaming innovation. Kapag nakita mo mga fabrics namin, kakaiba siya. Hawakan mo siya. Minsan, sa itsura, parehas eh. Once na sinuot, mo na-fell mo, iba. We also develop fabrics,” said Cu.
Team Rebel Sports started with a five-man working crew, then grew to as many as 200, working day and night.
“For this big orders, we’ve been there. Like the other manufacturers, customized-jersey provider. Lima or anim na tao lang kami. Logically, we’ve already learned na yung ganung kalaking tao can only produce this much. For example, yung STI uniforms na 1,000 sets and you had given us three weeks, who can do that? You need to get a company or a manufacturer who can back you up. We now have around 200 people working day and night and yung dedication ng tao andun,” said Cu.
“Sa US ipinagmamalaki ko ito. Tao namin has dedication even those at the bottom. We don’t sleep until we finish the uniform. Yun yung kakaiba sa amin. I even brought the uniform to US. I have a factory also in China. Hindi nai-ship. Shipping up in China need one day clearance. It’s just a one day event for 200 sets of football jerseys, ginawa namin dito. Thursday night ginawa ko, Friday ng umaga lumipad ako. Dala ko. Friday ng gabi, andun ako, sa US. I delivered it, Saturday, we made it to the one day event. Even the Americans didn’t believe what happened. Nagulat sila. We have focused and dedicated people. Our factory is in the mountains. They live in the mountains. That’s why we’re called Rebels.”
Currently, Team Rebel Sports is the official jersey maker of NCAA’s Lyceum Pirates. The company is also talking to other colleges for possible partnerships.
“Kaya nga we’ve been meeting schools, mga UCAA coaches. We’ve forged a partnership with Lyceum. I told them, Rebel is here not mainly for profit. Because we already have our US and Australian market. Our purpose is to give the students a good uniform. We’ve been giving it to the Americans, why not us Filipinos. Sariling atin,” said Cu.
Cu said that while Team Rebel Sports is affordable, its product’s qualities couldn’t be questioned.
“Hindi kami Divisoria, but we’re not saying also na kami yung mahal. If you think of Rebel, we’re the underdogs in the market. Hindi kami mahal. Magkano presyo mo, tapatan natin. Bigyan kita ng mas maganda, Yan ang konsepto ko sa local. You cannot compete in the international arena if you don’t have the resources. Hindi puwedeng Divisoria lang. I’m not saying this because class ako. Yung Rebel hindi mahal yan. Practical lang yan,” said Cu.
“Kaya yung materials namin, yung stitches namin, kakaiba. Mayroon kaming ire-release na product, reversible, very light. We called it, “Reversible Lightweight.” Two fabrics siya pero kapag hinawakan mo, parang isa lang. Magaan siya. This coming September, may ri-release kaming bagong product, we call it “Ultra Light.” These are for basketball, although meron rin kaming ni-release for American football, which is our main line sa US.
“Isa pang difference ng Rebel sa iba, yung stitching. Yung sinulid namin. Yung ibang tailoring hindi natin sila mapipilit, maliliit lang, yung mga nabibili sa Divisoria na pang-T-Shirt lang. Pero kapag hinila mo yun putok yun, sira yun. Mabilis maputol. Yung ginagamit naming sinulid, matibay. May chance nga masugat yung kamay mo eh. We have different kinds of sewing threads. Mayroon pa kaming sinulid na may stretch. We also have our own embroidery sublimation machines, madami na. It’s around 12. Yung speed namin ang ipinagmamalaki namin. You cannot compete in the international arena if you don’t have these resources.”
Team Rebel Sports has also put up an interactive website that allows clients to customize their desired uniforms, as well as keep track of their orders.
“Yung ibang mga nagpapagawa, naloloko. Here, nakikita nila what’s happening, nagco-comment pa sila. Doon sa system na ginawa namin, they can keep track of the uniforms na pinagawa nila,” he said.
“We have this system in our website, kapag umorder ka sa amin, your artworks are similar to what you see on Facebook. The artist will post it, then we can make revisions once you post your comments. It’s an interactive communication. Halimbawa yung sizing mo, you already approved it, then nagbayad na, na-deposit na, nasa production na, nakikita ng client yung mock up ng uniform.
“Because we’re posting pictures if nasa sewing na, nasa printing na. You can comment. Kaya tuwang-tuwa yung US market. Kapag may problema, nagko-comment sila agad. You can see our system in our teamrebeldirect.com, look for the tutorial of the system and how it works. There are so many videos there – the fan store, the fan store operation, we have this system, mga videos makikita niyo. The clients can see it first hand if nasa burdahan na, ito yung itsura ng logo. They can comment if may mali. Doon pa lang sa production, you can comment immediately.”