Any kind of drop relating to toys or cartoons begs for nostalgia, and the video lookbook for DBTK‘s new collab with Sanrio is dripping with a yearning for the days of childhood. Directed by Chino Villagracia from The Visual Club, the video is shot in 16mm style, with a rainbow of bleeding pastel colors. Grainy textures and flickering effects drive the feel of times gone past, which is furthered by the old furniture, courtesy of someone’s grandparents. “We shot it at our production designer’s grandfather’s old house,” laughs Villagracia. “I based the whole thing off childhood memories, like watching Sanrio on my grandmother’s old TV and playing the video games on our family computer.” (The Visual Club did the magazine lookbook, too.)
Read MoreTHE’s Block Party at Cubao Expo Was All About Community
Local independent streetwear vendors converged on Cubao Expo this past weekend for THE Block Party. The rain was torrential earlier in the day, but by nightfall, it had lightened to a cool drizzle. And the leftover chilly air and wet streets deterred no one; this was hoodie weather after all. Expo is the very location where many of these young artists found their creative roots, and it was all organized by none other than THE, the brand regularly cited as pioneering this thriving Metro Manila subculture.
Thank You to Bring the Fam to Cubao Expo
Thank You is a brand that sprouted from the concept of gratitude, and everything they do revolves around showing love and giving back to the people that surround them. They create streetwear and lifestyle clothing as part of their umbrella store, called the Thank You Gift Shop. Located in Malolos, Bulacan, the store showcases multiple brands and artists, selling stuff that ranges from coats to cookies. The products hail mostly from their hometown in Malolos, Bulacan, a province in the north of the Philippines, but they also feature artists from cities across the Philippines like Cebu and Cavite.
But no one is more important than their immediate family, and the brand revolves heavily around their daughter. It’s run by the married couple Alden and Mira Mallo, and they named their primary icon (a silhouette of a young girl bowing, as if politely saying “thank you”) Bliss after their child: “Gusto namin alam ng anak namin na family oriented yung brand namin, and ma-feel niya na para sakanya talaga to.” (“We want our daughter to know that our brand is family oriented, and we want her to feel that’s this concept is really dedicated to her.”)
Nike Air x Fear Of God Moccasins Unboxing – OPENING ACT
Today we unpackage the Nike Air Fear Of God moccasins in a particle beige colorway for our weekly installment of “Opening Act.” Honeycomb bossman Kayo Cosio gravitates towards these as a universal pair of sneakers that are comfortable to wear in most situations and easy to match with any outfit. They were also pretty easy to cop since there are a lot of haters out there: Failing to win the raffle at Commonwealth on release day, he stopped by their shop the following morning to see if anyone failed to pick up their pair, and indeed two colorways in his size were up for grabs. “A lot of people call them basura,” he laughs. But the lightweight feel and understated design appeal to him.
Read MoreRaise Hell Shreds with Daily Grind
Streetwear is supposed to be about community, so what better way to strengthen those bonds than collaborating with local artists killing it just down the street? A great example of this is Daily Grind‘s new collab with Raise Hell, which drops today. The line of fanny packs, bucket hats, and five-panel caps feature Hell’s Sailor Jerry-type illustrations in all-over patterns.
Raise Hell, also known as Raizel Go, is no stranger to the skateboarding world. She’s been painting on decks from Calle Skate Shop for a while now. She’s also designed boards for both Calle and Daily Grind. And you can find Raizel herself rolling around the streets of Manila on a longboard or a fixie. She’s even got her own fixed gear clothing brand called BRKLXX.
Read MoreThe Psychedelic Boyz New Video is Blowing Up
It can be difficult to tell what’s going to blow up these days, but anyone who’s been paying attention to Filipino rap knew it was only a matter of time for Psychedelic Boyz. Their latest video “Rawstarr Til I Die” dropped back in April but just started to go viral this month. Earlier this week it broke a million views, according to director J. Estacio, and it’s already nearing two million. “I get tagged in a lot of videos from fans posting this song online, hanging out with their friends doing wild shit. Even babies and young kids be bumping to it. And there’s a parody video now too!”
Read MoreFreedom Print Lab: A Filipino Streetwear Foundation
Sometimes, you need to take fate into your own hands and cut out the middlemen. That’s the case with Freedom Print Lab, which is run by a few Filipino streetwear heads who were finished waiting for other people to get anything done. “We got tired of relying on outside printing suppliers and their schedules,” says co-owner Zei Tacasa. “So we were basically just like, fuck this, and started our own thing.” Now they run a busy silkscreen shop supplying a host of local brands.
Akomplice Tackles the Issue of Gun Violence in the US
Akomplice clothing released a new collection this week called “Peace Vs. Piece,” which tackles the daunting issue of gun violence in the US. The lookbook, shot in a California cemetery, features a young model named Duke Abraham, signifying that, “The youth can be the victim or the perpetrator, and are often those most affected.”
Archie Oclos and the Tallest Mural in the Philippines
Twenty-two stories tall. Eighty gallons of house paint. One hundred cans of spray paint. One artist, no assistants. Twenty-four days. That’s quite a feat alone, but throw in an earthquake and now you’ve really got yourself a story. “Every day felt like a near death experience,” Archie Oclos laughs, recalling his time painting the country’s tallest mural last month. “But when the earthquake hit, I was on the scaffolding 12 stories up. The gondola was swinging and banging me against the wall. But once it was over I just kept painting, I had to finish it!”
‘NYC To Paris,’ Jordan Brand x Nike SB – OPENING ACT
Air Jordan 1s. The OGs! Today head honcho Kayo Cosio unboxes a pristine pair for our inaugural ‘Opening Act’ series. The ‘NYC to Paris’ Jordan Brand and Nike SB collabo bring together basketball and skateboarding culture in an ode to their shared histories. These scrape-off, high-top sneakers feature a thin outer layer of smooth paint designed to wear away, revealing another colorway beneath.
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