Photo: New store – MPG On Campus – opens in the Duckworth Centre
Mondetta Clothing/Mondetta Performance Gear opens its first MPG North American location in the company’s hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba
In partnership with The University of Winnipeg, the first ever MPG on Campus store is opening this month on the second floor of the Duckworth Centre within the United Health and RecPlex, a block-long health and wellness destination.
Students and the general public will have access to the company’s full collection of fashion forward, technically advanced active apparel. The 600 sq. ft. MPG on Campus store will be staffed by UWinnipeg students in partnership with the Faculty of Business and Economics, providing real world training and case-study opportunities.
Mondetta Clothing was founded at The University of Winnipeg while all four original founders were students in 1986, so the opening of this store marks the company’s return to its roots. Two sets of brothers struck up a friendship in Riddell Hall – Ash and Prashant Modha, Raj and Amit Bahl and the Modhas’ cousin, Pratik Modha, (who left the company shortly after). Together they would go on to create a global active wear clothing company that today employs 100 people in the U.S., China, Hong Kong and at their head office in Winnipeg.
“Having first started at the UWinnipeg, it is truly an honour and a genuine joy to return with a retail outlet to serve not only the students at the school, but also the Winnipeg community at large,” said Ash Modha, Mondetta CEO. “And as we continue to see the convergence between brick and mortar and online stores, MPG on Campus will act as a fantastic learning experience as to how consumers in the future will change their buying behaviours.”
“Mondetta – which means small world – is truly a homegrown success story, and an inspiration to our students: hard work and perseverance do pay off,” said Dr. Annette Trimbee, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg. “We are delighted to bring this store to campus and eventually offer our business students new practicum possibilities.”
A “soft opening” of MPG On Campus occurred today with a grand opening celebration taking place on December 13, 2014.
MPG, in partnership with a Korean manufacturing partner, has already opened 15 stores and soft shops in Seoul, which have been well received as an alternative to the conventional offerings in the active wear market. The Winnipeg store will mark the company’s first foray in retail operations in North America and will be followed by additional store openings in the near future.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Diane Poulin, Senior Communications Specialist, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
Anand Modha, Director of Communications, Mondetta Clothing/MPG
P: 204.786.1700 E: anand.modha@mondetta.com
