By Aira Villanueva-Vinoya, PRA
For more than three decades, Zanea Shoes has been part of the Philippine retail landscape. Established in 1994 by Tito Casano, Hanna’s father, the homegrown footwear brand brought the family’s long-standing shoemaking tradition into retail, building a name for quality shoes proudly made in the Philippines.
The family’s shoemaking story, however, began with Hanna’s grandfather, whom she fondly calls “Lolo Bindoy.”
Today, Hanna Casano, Strategy Manager of Zanea Shoes, represents the next generation carrying that legacy forward.
For Hanna, being part of the family business is not simply about continuing what previous generations have built. It is about bringing a fresh perspective while remaining grounded in the craftsmanship and values that shaped the company.
Before pursuing her studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where she graduated summa cum laude, Hanna spent a year working with Zanea. That experience gave her an understanding of the business from the inside and, she believes, provided a strong foundation when she entered the global fashion environment.
Rather than feeling out of place, Hanna discovered that her experience in the Philippines had prepared her well.
“We can excel in a lot of different global stages. I didn’t feel out of place there. I felt that whatever training I had here was actually just heightened there,” she shared.
Her time in New York gave her new ideas and a broader perspective on fashion, but it also strengthened her belief in Filipino craftsmanship and its ability to stand alongside global standards.
“We are locally made, yes, but on the other side, we have world-class quality,” Hanna said. “Because it is Gawang Pinoy, it is world-class quality.”
Today, Hanna is gradually taking on greater responsibilities within Zanea from joining meetings and handling projects to conducting store checks and becoming more involved in different aspects of the business.
The transition, she says, happened naturally, with her father gradually giving her more opportunities to step up.
“It’s those little things that maybe you don’t feel at the moment. But when you look back, oh, I realized I’ve done all this [pala]. I was given a lot of this opportunity and responsibility.”
As Zanea Shoes looks toward its next chapter, Hanna is finding her own place within a legacy that began with Lolo Bindoy and evolved into the retail business her father built.
What does it mean to carry a family legacy forward while making room for something new? Hannah shares more about her journey, her perspective on Filipino craftmanship, and the future of Zanea Shoes in Episode 49 of PRA’s Let’s Talk Retail, premiering September 23 at 3:00 PM on the PRA’s YouTube channel and Spotify.
