Led by designer Jor-El Espina, BRGY is a quaint, hip hub for those seeking everyday essentials and statement pieces that showcase Filipino creativity and craftsmanship.
Admit it: when shopping, you probably gravitate toward everyday basics you barely think about styling, or you chase celebrity-inspired pieces to keep up with global trends. There’s nothing wrong with that—but if you want to elevate your wardrobe with truly unique, creative pieces, then turn to our country’s talented designers.
These artists offer diverse ways to elevate your wardrobe while showcasing Filipino craftsmanship, utilizing local materials, and featuring homegrown artisans. Four of them are featured at the BRGY concept store in Makati, which opened on August 18 as a quaint, hip hub for those seeking everyday essentials or statement pieces that are distinct, aesthetically pleasing, and of high quality.
With renowned fashion designer Jor-El Espina as the captain or punong barangay, BRGY combines Filipino creativity and the community spirit found in the smallest administrative unit in the Philippines. “The concept of a barangay is unique to our country,” Espina said in a news release. “For BRGY, we wanted to highlight a small community of creatives and diverse brands.”
Espina worked with three of his “kabarkadas” and fellow designers for the store’s launch: Jun Escario, Lorico, and Viktor Jeans. Each of them, including Espina, releases collections and couture pieces only through their ateliers—until now, after fashion director JP Arce told Espina to invite his “designer friends and collaborators to be part of this evolving project.”
“The collections we featured in BRGY are exclusive to the concept store and are done in small batches,” Espina continued. “The pieces I have here, for example, are totally different from what you see at the atelier or pop-ups.”
Related story: Old guard meets young blood: Jor-El Espina releases collection inspired by Patis Tesoro
Related story: This newly opened atelier shines a spotlight on Filipino ingenuity
What’s also unique about BRGY is that every three to six months, new brands and collections will be introduced alongside an edit of lifestyle finds like furniture from Jed Yabut, photographs by Doc Marlon Pecjo, home decor from Paperbound, and yarn craft by Reverie. Capsule collections that feature the designers’ unique interpretations of contemporary design will also be on rotation.
If you’re ready to shop and elevate your wardrobe beyond what you find in malls, scroll down below for some of the chic and unique fashion finds you’ll likely want to score at BRGY.
For big pops of color
One of the easiest ways to refresh your style—and at the same time, boost your daily mood—is by adding big pops of color to your wardrobe. You can never go wrong with some bold yellows, vibrant blues, or hot pinks—and for that, Espina has your back. Hot on the heels of his psychedelic 20th anniversary collection, the famed designer unveiled yet another stunner of a capsule at BRGY. Patchwork, embroidery, and beadwork are key to this collection that symbolizes “memories, colors, and craftsmanship.” Each piece, he said, “is a playful ode to Filipino nostalgia in bold checks, floral appliqués, and sari-sari store charm reimagined for today’s barangyan spirit.”
Among the (many) standouts is a bomber jacket in black-and-white lace fabric adorned with colorful floral beadwork and blue woven sleeves (P9,500). There’s also a sleeveless A-line dress crafted from pure piña fabric and handpainted with dainty flowers (P15,500) that’s perfect for a brunch with friends or a daytime event at an estate courtyard. Meanwhile, exude perky summer vibes wherever you go with the hot pink button-down shirt in sheer fabric jazzed up with a handmade 3D turquoise flower at the front (P9,000).
For some ultramodern touches
Want to build a wardrobe that instead evokes a sleek and modern vibe? Head over to Jerome Lorico’s racks, which feature his “Strange Flowers” collection, where classic aesthetics alternate with ultramodern touches. Most of the pieces are “reminiscent of body parts to symbolize women, especially those who are not well-represented in society,” Lorico told The POST.
Aside from the concept, what ultimately sets Lorico’s collection apart is his use of a technique called “tension draping.” He explained, “It’s something I developed over the years—a piece of knit fabric is stretched and tucked in certain parts so that it may be molded to the body when wearing it. So it’s something organic, in a way, ‘cause it follows not a specific measurement but the actual body of the one wearing it.”
The piece that first caught our eye is the knit halter top stretched and folded to resemble an anthurium flower. Next is the turtleneck cape tied around the waist, which is ideal for trips abroad during the cold “Ber” months, as well as the pullovers adorned with flower-printed pins as an alternative to the ugly Christmas sweater.
Designed to “serve a broader market,” Lorico’s Strange Flowers capsule comes with price tags lower than those in his atelier in Mandaluyong. “Clothes range from P5,000 to P20,000, so it really caters to a broader market that can afford different kinds of prices,” he told The POST.
For a wardrobe that’s both functional and stylish
We can all agree—no closet is complete without denim. Pants, jackets, and dresses crafted from this versatile fabric effortlessly adapt to any style, season, and occasion. It has become part of our everyday—but it doesn’t have to be boring. Ino Caluza, designer and founder of Viktor Jeans, knows this too well, so he brought his best selling pieces from his atelier in Greenbelt 5 to BRGY and cater to posh denim junkies who want their denims fast and fashionable.
Dubbed “Denim Dreams,” the collection marks the first time Caluzo steps into ready-to-wear. “I realized, we have a lot of younger clients who want their jackets and jeans done fast. They don’t want to wait a week or two to get them. They’ve been asking me to do an RTW version of the designs, so that’s what I came up with,” he told The POST. “All of the items here, you can just buy of the rack. Some come with sizing as well. But the good thing is that each piece is limited.”
Caluzo’s racks are filled with straight-cut jeans, rider jackets, and slim skirts that blend clean, sleek silhouettes with modern details and materials. Their distinctness lies in the material Caluzo has been using for each of his masterpieces: denim, wool, and leather, specially sourced in Japan. “Eighty percent are made of Japanese denim, vegan leather, and wool because they have the best fabric,” he continued. “No one can beat them when it comes to denim, and even their vegan leather is better than original leather. You can wash it, you can iron it, it’s very sustainable.”
Standouts include a denim jacket jazzed up with knife pleats and a leather collar (P22,900), as well as its dark, oversized version (P22,499). For those traveling abroad, stay stylish with the sweater that comes with an oversized collar and a striking shade of red (P25,000), along with other wool pieces in Viktor Jeans’ first-ever RTW collection.
BRGY is located at Unit 704, One Corporate Center, Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City. It is open to guests from 10 am to 7 pm daily.
Related story: Revisiting a movement: Fashionably, proudly Filipino, and the high price of loving local
