It all began in October of last year when fashion and celebrity stylist Roko Arceo started collecting tablecloths and fabrics. But it was only last July that he started production, planning and launching last October his e-Commerce and IG pages just so he could make the application deadline for Presente by Artefino, which ran from 30 November to 3 December. Boom!
Maligaya, a ready-to-wear menswear brand, then debuted recently in this season of Artefino and became one of their refreshing and spotlighted favorites.
His one-offs (one of a kind tops) flew off the racks and were immediately sold out. The look has a certain nowness and fluidity that reflects modern-day dressing — no fuss, very practical and easy to wear.
Roko says, “It’s for everyone. It’s Filipino heritage. Our brand is a fusion of modern, Filipino and sustainable fashion. Our designs incorporate classic Filipino, modern silhouettes and versatile pieces that can be easily mixed and matched.”
As designers like Roko show, fashion now is an expression of relevance. People just don’t come up with things nowadays because there’s a lot of substance out there.
Childhood memories
So, what’s in a name? “Maligaya is the Filipino word for happiness. I wanted a name that can resonate with anyone — something very colloquial, inclusive, unpretentious and with the right vibe,” says this promising fashion entrepreneur.
Tracing back to his childhood, Roko also wanted something related to his fascination with vintage signs and typefaces such as Chinese-Filipino business names he would see while in his car passing through Avenida and Binondo.
He adds, “I was even supposed to add ‘commercial’ in the name. But Maligaya just felt right.”
This clothing brand is all about nostalgia and reliving memories of the past. “I’m a lola’s boy. There’s something about seeing the manteles of my lola or memorabilia that I used to see inside my lola’s baul that suddenly warms my heart. Anyone can relate.”
Early beginnings
The brand didn’t happen overnight. It was a plan more than a decade ago that couldn’t be realized because of his styling and costume design work for television series and the lack of time. His last work for GMA-7 (Maria Clara at Ibarra)was pivotal in inspiring him to pursue the dream. It gave him exposure to vintage Filipino dresses and shirts up close which developed his appreciate Filipino craftsmanship and our culture.
Roko also gets inspired by international fashion brands like Bode, Harago and Pantano Clothing, who use vintage fabrics such as old saris, laces and embroidery then upcycle them into unique pieces. The demand for menswear grew but the lack of supply couldn’t meet the needs of many. But it was the push of a friend — congressman Toff de Venecia — that convinced him to give it a go.
DNA
In a retail landscape where local brands a sprouting like mushrooms and with a strong movement towards sustainability, how does Maligaya come into play?
Through awareness and with a sense of responsibility, Roko says. “Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle. We try to be sustainable and ethical about our choices. The brand doesn’t use plastic buttons, all mother of pearl. Furthermore, we use deadstock fabrics and pure Irish and Polish linen which are 100-percent flax.”
The edge
The brand is a fusion of RTW and custom, echoing artisanal sensibilities and qualities that make it bespoke or one of a kind. Through the uniqueness of retailing and being semi-couture by nature, they repurpose different vintage fabrics, which are cut piece by piece and by hand.
The old new is the tomorrow of fashion. History teaches, the now is about awakening, while the future reinvents, transforms and reuses. Style is seeing things in a more woke and relevant perspective.
“Rather than keeping mementos inside cabinets and bauls, getting eaten by moths and collecting dust, why not repurpose them? Share them for all the world to see. There are ways to showcase them and still keep them close to your heart,” Rock ends.