In an age where the algorithm tells you how to dress for the likes and the clout, do you go with the flow or do you do your own thing? In general, social media has a way of manipulating people’s tastes, telling them good from bad, in from out. It’s a bottomless pit of outfit inspirations, and impromptu photoshoots showcasing new pieces of clothing worn by your favorite star. Just about every trend becomes a huge part of the online spectrum. Surely, everyone’s kind of guilty about following a trend or two.

Trends and trendsetters everywhere with “the looser the pants, the better” mindset, the countless sneaker collaborations coming out from left and right, the Y2K-aesthetic Gen-Z stans, and the seemingly endless fashion shows from micro-influencers on Instagram and Tik Tok—Where do you put yourself there? The short answer is: You can put yourself anywhere.

“Clothing is an expression” or however the saying goes, but it is also a way to embrace individuality. How can you be unique if there are a million others who like the same stuff as you? Being different doesn’t necessarily mean not liking what everyone and their mothers like. It can be how you carry yourself, or how you wear the clothes that are keeping you warm on a night out.

Just remember, you can enjoy everything, be different, or be the same. It’s all you. Always. An expression, a way to present yourself to the world, or just the comfort of wearing what you like regardless of what everyone might say. Just take the lead and be faithful to what you want.

In finding a style you’re comfortable with, do not worry too much about the endless online mood boards. To help you on that journey, here are some homegrown labels that stay true to themselves, and are future household names, if they aren’t already.

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CARL JAN CRUZ

Screaming into the night with your indigo-tinged armor, maong ni tatay (father’s denim), the color green, wide pants and even wider cuffs, unique clasps for warmth and closure, stripes of all kinds, and pop-ups around the world. Some of the stuff I associate with Carl Jan Cruz are almost just everyday things, save for the armor of course.

Creative wunderkind, CJ, as he is called by his team, has a lot under his belt. What with being an alumnus of the prestigious London College of Fashion at the University of Arts London, interning at Céline during Phoebe Philo’s tenure, and creating just the widest pants you can find. But let’s talk about something else: His studio.

From jackets to pants to bralettes, you’re greeted with countless pieces of clothing in various types of maongs. Soft pique pieces, inspired by the humid climate of the Philippines, welcome you as well. Colors, or editions as the team calls them, the many shades of blue, brown, and green, flush the four walls of the quaint Taguig studio with a cozy calmness.

Trying on a jacket of his, I found myself not wanting to take it off. The Asterio denim shirt/jacket in Edition 1 was a sight to behold, and even better on the body. One would assume that a big jacket like that would be heavy, but it was soft, light, and just about anything I’d want from an outerwear.

Moving on, what’s a Carl Jan Cruz portion without the classic denim talk, right? First of all, denim or maong has been a go-to for everyone here. It’s always the shade or how kupas your denim pants are that show how much you’ve enjoyed wearing it. From Levi’s to BNY to Lee to your trusty ukay-ukay (thrift store), you can find just about the right pair for you. What sets CJ apart? One sure thing is the quality. May it be a Jan Shell Jacket or a pair of his Free Cuff Jeans, it’s made with love, with your actual measurements (which are taken in his studio), to boot. It might even be best to say that CJ and his team have perfected the maong, cuffed or otherwise.

Their pieces are versatile, but many are reversible as well. From the soft piques mentioned to some of the denim pieces, you can totally wear them in more ways than one. So, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for—quality, versatility, and comfort.

Wooden floors, denim galore, soft woven fabrics, and your new favorite t-shirt in pique, a PangOkasyon line for those special moments, and a Pambahay line for any and all occasions, what’s stopping you from visiting the studio? If it’s not the clothes, it must the ambience. Its feel-at-home vibe and the ever-so-welcoming team are a major plus.

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Just remember, you can enjoy everything, be different, or be the same. It’s all you.

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CONSTRUCTION LAYERS (CLAY)

It’s daunting to create and share what you’ve created, but it’s different for CP Garcia and Kendrick Cay.

The talented duo has a knack for detail-oriented clothing, wonderful-yet-sometimes-absurd cuts of tops and bottoms, and out-there prints and patterns. You might think what they’re doing is similar to Michèle Lamy and Michelle Elie’s personal collection of Comme des Garçons, but that isn’t the case. It’s the complete 180 of it—at least for now.

CP and Ken’s brainchild is one of the hottest local labels right now. Construction Layers, or CLAY for short, is a shout-out to basics—elevated to 101 percent, with details that are best seen up close and personal. From t-shirts to cuffed pants to bags and to a full ensemble with piping details throughout, a lot of the items are intricately cut to a T. It never gets old, and there’s always something to look forward to in every collection.

What started in 2019 with Fameur Pro, their debut collection, has since been releasing hit after hit. CLAY is now in its third year still doing the same. With its ever-famous second collection, Timescapes, pintuck tees, and ruched crossbody bags were all but sold out within minutes after release or almost with one or two sizes left on the website, necessitating a re-release of some pieces in new colors a few months later.

Like its namesake, CLAY will easily mold itself to your closet. It’s just exciting to watch where the brand goes from here. Through future trends and whatnot in clothing, it will adapt with fresh new ideas, and take on old ones.

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SUOT

“Skinny jeans are out, and flowy pants are in.” 

Until Instagram taught me how to dress, I was always in my skinny jeans. Nothing made me want to change styles, because wearing that one pair of pants made me feel like I was on top of the world. Isn’t that what matters when dressing up? It’s no surprise I was an advocate of the skinnies. I still have a pair or two at home.

Oversized wonders and relaxed cuts, reversible hats and scrap leathers as necklaces, Karl Guerra’s SUOT loves overly-skinny jeans, the spray-on variant of it, and just about any pair of pants that feel like you’d lose oxygen or limit your blood circulation if you wear it again the next time you go out.

With a tagline that says “For every shape and shade,” SUOT caters to anyone who just wants to dress up. This clothing brand is for everyone, regardless of size, gender, and looks. Wanting to try something akin to how Japanese people dress? They have it for you. A vest that adds more pockets for your everyday carry, and a great layering piece? They have it as well. Here’s a tip: If the colors you like have not been produced, you can ask them for private orders.

When it comes to sustainability, Karl shows us that nothing gets thrown away. Scrap fabrics, from leathers to cotton, get turned into unique necklaces.

SUOT is a closer look at Karl’s own style. Comfort is king when it comes to how he chooses his clothes, and it pours over to what he releases from his brand. A hefty selection of pants that look like balloons when worn, and a pair of cargo pants, as well as equally sensational cargo shorts, from its second release are getting their well-deserved buzz. What’s better than a functional pair, and done with an earthy color palette, right?

If you’re looking to check out something else, there’s always Filipino-led online stores that carry more of outsourced clothing such as archive darling, The Sixth Sense (instagram.com/thesixthsense), and a hefty amount of classic hits from vintage powerhouse, CIRCLES (instagram.com/circles.mgt).

Armor, costume, uniform, or whatever you want to call your favorite piece of clothing will always be up to you. A discussion between Carl Jan Cruz and Rajo Laurel on Youtube for Power Mac Center’s Generations Series back in 2020 states that, as designers, they are “creators of modern-day armor,” and I do believe that that is the case, not just for CJ, but for CP, Ken, and Karl as well.

With outfit pics everywhere, Instagram likes getting more zeroes than our bank accounts, and where style is more important than comfort, never forget these homegrown names. They all have style and comfort, as much online approval as you want and need, and impeccable dedication to their crafts.