Mina Althea Guinto: The Woman Behind Wear Vida

Wear Vida is a small, local women’s brand that offers comfortable, high-quality, and timeless pieces that sprung from the creative mind of Mina Althea Guinto — a 23-year-old Entrepreneurial Management graduate from the University of Asia & the Pacific — who had always dreamed of managing her own clothing line. During her time at university, Mina was required to launch a business venture of her own in order to finish her degree, which ultimately paved the way for what the brand has become today.

Seeing the growing market for swimsuits in the Philippines in 2018, the young entrepreneur first started with Swim Vida to capitalize on the opportunity. This was, in itself, riddled with numerous challenges such as having minimal finances for capital and difficulty in finding both suppliers and tailors. Yet, Mina was determined to find a solution for every struggle that came her way and, eventually, Swim Vida got off to a good start.

“When I started my first business, I did not have the financial capacity to order in large quantities since the only money I had was from the allowance that was given to me every week,” explained Mina. “It was disadvantageous for me but this did not discourage me. I offered pre-ordered swimsuits so customers would pay first and I would not have to take out money from my allowance. A few months after opening my online shop, I already had the capital to register my business legally.”

Due to the outbreak of the global pandemic, however, sales of Swim Vida significantly slowed down as travel restrictions were implemented. With this, Mina looked to expand her brand to include other types of clothing — particularly dresses — leading to the official launch of Wear Vida in May 2021 which has since come out with three different collections.

What sets Wear Vida apart is the dedication its owner has for the brand. Mina works meticulously to make sure that every detail of her clothing line — from the fabric to the silhouette, and even all the way down to the smallest details like the zipper —  is at par with her vision. The entrepreneur also employs the assistance of her younger sister Nica Guinto, who is currently a Multimedia Arts undergraduate, to formulate pub mats for marketing. The clothing line’s online platform has, likewise, been constantly commended for its impeccable customer service, which leads to high customer acquisition and retention.

Mina has always been passionate about fashion, but as the eldest of four siblings and having her father as the only provider, she was aware that this might not be the most practical path to take. Nonetheless, her clothing line appears to be doing well as a small business and she finds fulfillment in being able to do what she loves despite the hardships. “Today, I am at the point wherein I have reconciled with my dream of pursuing fashion while continuously applying the learnings from my undergraduate studies to gradually run my own clothing line successfully,” she added.

Currently, the young entrepreneur is working to revive her swimwear line, particularly as mobility restrictions continue to ease and more consumers are beginning to get back into traveling. Wear Vida is also set to release its fourth collection later this month dubbed “Verano.” To shop their collections and learn more about the brand, visit their website at WEAR VIDA or follow them on various social media platforms.