The British subculture icon introduced six new creative souls at one of their Subculture Events series.
Before the crisp and clean Fred Perry polo shirts that we see hanging in pristine, almost clinical stores in air-conditioned malls in the Metro, there was Fred Perry the tennis and table tennis player, a legend in sports.
Perry’s working class background and disillusionment with the elitism that plagued British tennis in the 1930s were just some of the factors that made the Fred Perry shirt, first introduced at Wimbledon in 1952, a hit with various subcultures. Previously available only in white and black, the subsequent multicolored versions, decked with the iconic laurel wreath and the recognizable “twin-tipping” on the collar and sleeves, became the “uniform of the non-uniform”: the “mods” (or modernists) of the late ‘50s, the skinheads of the ‘60s, and Britpop fans of the ‘90s, among others.
It’s the spirit of nonconformity that informed Fred Perry’s recently concluded gathering for their Subculture Events series. As co-presenter of Transit Records’ Night Tales Evening Breeze, the brand introduced six new creative personalities that embody Fred Perry’s subculture ethos.
Held at Seltsam in Makati, Night Tales Evening Breeze provided an alternative way of enjoying music, visuals, conversations, and secrets that only come out in the night. With no formal program, the event encouraged guests to keep their phones in their pockets, enjoy the present moment, and take in the beats curated by some of Manila nightlife’s creative DJs.
Throughout the evening, guests were able to mingle and bond with Fred Perry’s newest ambassadors: crochet artist Daphne Chao, the creative behind Ilyang Ilyang and a featured cover artist on Vogue Philippines’ May issue; nail artist Kai Manlapaz, also known as “The Modern Nailist” who works under the all-female tattoo studio, Crimson River; emerging photographer and filmographer Hix Murakami, championing Filipino queer and women-led narratives through Street Woman Productions; self-taught designer and illustrator Tom Bucag, known in the art scene with his distinctly beautiful, darkly whimsical stylized portraits; Paul Jatayna, a production designer and event producer who has become a key player in Manila’s underground rave scene; and Miguel Carlos “Migstar” Tarrosa, who has come to be known in Manila for documenting a whole range of subculture movements and happenings.
Recalling the spirit of Fred Perry’s founder and the groups that have taken the shirt as their own, the introduction of these six creatives runs in line with Fred Perry’s subculture ethos, which has always centered around the idea of finding like-minded people, of connecting with each other, and of communing with creative communities.
Stay tuned for more updates and announcements on Fred Perry’s Subculture Events in the Philippines. For more information, visit Fred Perry’s Facebook page, Instagram account, or official website.
