It had to be said: the maong needs more appreciation!
Remember when our moms back then would only let us wear our newest maong during Christmas parties or our birthday? We’re sorry, but it has to be addressed: the maong or “denim” has unconsciously been a huge part of our culture growing up. At family reunions, we’re pretty sure at some point at least one Tita has looked at us from head to toe when we showed up in a faded maong with tattered designs. “San ka nadapa?” they would ridiculously ask. Or how industrial workers would also have their denim pants or overalls splattered with paint accidentally yet always looked so fire. In honor of the maong, here are 5 local brands that have been reinventing denim.
READ MORE: These 6 Sustainable Filipino Brands Are Turning Old Clothes and Retaso Into Statement Pieces
CARL JAN CRUZ
Having trained at London College of Fashion and landing an internship at fashion house Céline Phoebe Philo era, Carl Jan Cruz took the plunge when he left Manila to work on his own label. If Karl Lagerfeld had Chanel’s tweed jacket to reinvent every season, Carl Jan Cruz had his denim pieces.
MERAKI
Utilitarian and mult-functional, Meraki’s pieces are genderless and can easily pass as a wardrobe classic. Aside from their denim cargo pants, they also have overalls and polos.
IMMA UNIVERSE
Making waves for her “Filipiniana menswear” a few years ago, Imma Colarina has since kept her label on the radar. This time around, she has launched her newest collection, a capsule of 6 denim jeans artfully made especially for those like us who always wanna keep things extra.
GIRLS RELIGION
Girls Religion is a local brand that’s been a vocal advocate of slow, ethical fashion. Some of our favorite denim pieces from their collection are the bell bottom jeans and the cargo pair.
TIE DIET
Leave it to Tie Diet to breathe new life into denim with their cool paint jobs. Their pieces are handmade with love all the way from Cebu.
BONUS: MONKI
While Monki isn’t a local brand, we appreciate how they’ve been conscious with the way their products are being made. Just like their newest denim line called “Do You,” which is entirely made of organic and recycled cotton.
CONTINUE READING: 7 Stunning Filipino Jewelry Brands That You Will Want To Wear
