Why can’t Philippines be a fashion trendsetter?
By: Chris
9 November 2008
1,628 views
12 Comments
Image credit: MaxiAdrian | License
Today, I was emailed by an Italian-American reader who stumbled upon Pinoy Guy Guide while he and his Filipina girlfriend were searching about Filipino pop-culture and lifestyle. It was very alarming when he told me that the Philippines has no originality when it comes to style and fashion. I’d like to quote an excerpt of his exact message to me below:
“…I studied history in college, so I know a deal about countries who have been under colonial rule. I always just wonder to myself how much more culturally rich and vibrant those countries would be if they didn’t continue to follow in the footsteps of their colonizers, even after gaining independence.
The Philippines, and other countries formally under colonial rule, have so much potential in their artistic and cultural talents. Yet, what ends up getting publicized are the latest fashions from abroad. I know foreign trends are inevitable, but even highly American-influenced countries like Japan, Brazil, and Australia still try to break away from the mold. They themselves have set global trends that Americans now copy. I believe the Philippines can do the same…”
Alarming isn’t it? But what he pointed out is correct. If you have noticed, Western countries are starting to adapt style influences from Asian countries like Japan and Korea. As a matter of fact, I have received several emails from American and even European guys asking me how to style their hair the Asian way. If you even take a look at the bottom part of this blog, one of the most viewed items is my first PGG post which is about Gatsby Hair Wax – a Japanese hairstyling product.
Even male scarves which I featured recently is a style from the Middle East (also a part of Asia). They are now being worn by Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and other popular icons from the West. As you can see, the West is now starting to adapt Asian trends.
The list could go on and on but wouldn’t it be better if there is a worldwide trend which we can proudly say is started by the Philippines?
As what was pointed out by the reader who sent me an email, influences from foreign countries are inevitable but like him, I also hope that a day will come when the world can say that: “Oh that style was started by the Filipinos”.
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Hi Bro,
Although we were under colonnial rule, the best asset of being a filipino is that they are innovators. Check history and you’ll see that there are a lot of things we Pinoy was able to contribute to the world. A lot of these things has been patterned from a Pinoy’s discovery.
Like many trend makers (as a whole), it all goes back to the point that we are not given the right avenues and funds to support such activities. No matter how good and how hard a fashion designer can become – still, MONEY is a problem and 2nd, suport from the right people to get them there.
Just sharing…
Vir
that’s right…
i find the picture above which features the modernized Filipino clothing very COOL..
I’d definitely wear something like that..
While reading it Chris, I felt a sudden hit on my pride when the person who emailed you said, “Filipinos doesn’t have originality”, but then I suddenly realized it’s true.
Ewan ko nga ba bakit di tayo maka.gawa ng trademark natin.
Obviously, we’re not only copying their clothings, but their lifestyles as well. Look at the cafes in the Metro, all of them are whether European or Western-inspired. I must admit that I like it.
I don’t have really something sensible to say, but just to admit that I myself follows what’s IN in the US, rather than here in the Philippines.
hmp.
vir_antonio/Patricio: I agree, that they need government support and also people who would indeed buy their original products
Pao: yeah, that modernized clothing is COOL!
I think the Philippines are still trying to find an identity when it comes to fashion. We’re still trying to figure out if we are asians or westernized enough.
fashion also reflects the consciousness of the people who wear the clothes. the lack of originality in philippine fashion simply reflects how we are still searching for the filipino identity that we lost when we, as a people, underwent that long history of colonialism. this identity crisis is true not just in fashion but even in other things like food, entertainment and literature. it is still hard to answer the question, “what is filipino?” more so “what is filipino fashion?” for now, we will make do with this hodge-podge, American cum Asian, crossbreed, pastiche look and trust filipinos to be good at it, too.
i agree kay jessie, eh til now even pinoys abroad ikinahihiya ang pinas.
nakakalungkot lang din na pag dito kasi pag nag-attempt ka na ibalandra ang iyong fashion statement na kaiba sa marami– tiyak, makakatikim ka ng panunuya sa iba… kesyo di bagay daw sa kutis mo, sa hitsura mo.
pag sinabi rin kasing ‘fashion’- may connotation ito sa mga pinoy na pang-high end lang o pang-mayaman.
one more thing, bagama’t patuloy ang pagtatangka ng ilan nating kababayan na i-uplift ang pinoy pride sa fashion world, ilan ba sa kanila ang nag-consider kung afford ng nakararami ang kanilang obra?
well the thing is, we all know that the filipinos has this “gaya-gaya” attitude. don’t believe me? take a look on our television shows, commercials and stuff… hays… wala na nga tayong originality lahat kinopya!
The filipinos also has this attitude called “ayaw ko ng cheap gusto ko imported.” ~_~;
besides, ano nga ba ang pwede nating i ambag sa fashion society kung halos 60% na katao sa pinas eh gusto pang pumunta ng ibang bansa para magtrabahao ng hindi nila kinagugustuhan. pinilitan lang silang kunin iyon para sa kapakanan ng pamilya nila. eh kung sa tingin natin na 30% percent dun ay gusto talagang maging fashion designer then why not? yun nga lang sa kahirapan ng buhay…
WHAT??? mahirap ba ang mga pinoy?? hindi noh! gusto nga natin ng imported eh HAHAHAAH!!!!
:p
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well the guy’s italian. he can’t help it haha
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