People have told me that I don’t seem (operative word: SEEM– because I actually am quite supportive, buying Philippine- made products) to be very supportive of a lot of Philippine fashion brands of late. No, it’s definitely not because I find the quality below my standards. In fact, a lot of the local things I have seen are very well- made and definitely of international quality.
But in the last few months though, I have been distraught. And please don’t take it against me when I say this (I am just being very honest)– there are a few local brands/ designers who have proved to be a big disappointment in my book *but it’s not like I make a dent in their bottom lines for them to care about what I think though hahaha*, some have managed to copy designs off other designers/ brands (it’s one thing to manufacture something with similar elements because it’s inspired by another designer, and it’s another to make an exact copy and market it as your “own design”) while others seem to have found good business in “re- tagging” or “re-labeling” merchandise from other sources and again, marketing them as their “own design” and selling them for a song (this is apparently becoming common practice in the fashion business– and finding out about it came as a big shock to me).
Don’t get me wrong, those 2 statements I made are in no way applicable to all. So please don’t think those are general statements and sentiments. But this is how it is, as a friend in fashion tells me. “This is a business. It’s not always about art because art does not sell all the time, and what does not sell cannot pay the bills”, she said. So admittedly, the price to pay for creativity is high. but then there are still very creative local designers who can churn pieces out without charging clients an arm and a leg for their merchandise.