Pam: Odd Future

Dec 5, 2017
3 min read

As I was on my way to meet with my friend / business partner with regards to our production meets, I can't help but ask his sister, Pam, on her thoughts with streetwear and urban culture. Given her unique charisma (and style) I sat down with her and my friend over some pizza and mojos.

Name: Pamela Pagulayan

Nickname: Pam

Location: Project 8, Quezon City, Philippines

Currently an: Accountant

Shirt: Obey Giant

Denim: Levis 501

Shirt: Anti Social Social Club

Denim: Levis 501

Shirt: A Bathing Ape (BAPE)

Denim: Levis 501

Sneakers: Nike

Mon: So can you tell me why (and how) you got into streetwear?

Pam: Streetwear (for me) is mostly about comfort and also about style. Mostly you see some people just go with.

M: Having said that, tell me some local and foreign streetwear brands you're into.

P: For local, I guess Don't Blame the Kids (DBTK) and for international, Supreme, uhm, Anti Social Social Club (laughs), Obey.

M: What's you're definition of streetwear for young Filipina women?

P: For me, the definition of streetwear fashion for young Filipinas depends on the person kasi . For me, I guess overtime, the way women dress in fashion will evolve. Usually before, women tend to dress how we are supposed to be dressed like. Super girly skirts and all that but now, women are embracing more (of the culture) something more than they are supposed to. More of like (being) androgynous. Androgynous, that's me (laughs)

M: Since women (here) are into fashion, what can you tell me about the growth of the streetwear scene here in the Philippines? Observation mo na what has changed before (your observation of what has changed before) or where you in the culture (streetwear) before? Or did you experience other people do so?

P: For me, at first, it's fine. A lot of people are more into it (laughs).

M: Why? How would you say that?

P: You're supposed to wear it for style. But here in the Philippines, that's usually not the case. Parang (It's like) very trendy now.

M: Just a simple question, how did you get into streetwear?

P: How I got into streetwear? Hmm..mostly because of celebrities. It's very trendy. You can see that in Lookbook and Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter.

M: Since you're are mentioning to me about social media, how does social media play a part in your definition and style of streetwear and street culture in general? Since you use (consume) Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, how did this define your perception and views?

P: At first when I saw that, I asked myself will that fit me? Babagay kaya sa akin? (repeats the same question in tagalog) Kasi (because) I see a lot of people wearing them. At some point, I can incorporate streetwear into what I usually wear. So, like unti-unti (little by little) I incorporate it to my style. Even though streetewear is involved with dancing and skateboarding, nowadays we don't do all these things because we wear them as a fashion (statement)

M: Do you have any particular and prominent personalities that influence you to dress in streetwear?

P: I guess, Ruby Rose. Who I am I guess, I define myself through Ruby Rose when I dress up. Androgynous as it looks, I lean towards to the fashion of men. Same as Ruby Rose, ganun pa din (still the same)

M: Having said that, you know the issue with men trying to get into women's fashion and now women are getting into men's fashion, have you ever experienced discrimination? I guess siguro (surely) in your community?

P: Ofcourse. It's a normal behavior na (now). When they see something unconventional, para wala (like nothing), they give me weird looks. At first, it bothered me parang (like) you're not supposed to dress like that! Pero (but) in time, they knew that this is how I want to dress.

M: How would you see young Filipinas getting into streetwear 5 years from now?

P: I guess 5 years from now, I hope more people would embrace that it's not only about the style but it's also more of the culture. I mean, marami parin people na nag didisapprove of this look (many people still disapprove of this look). It's not...people tend to nalilimit sila sa isang perception (people are only limited to one perception). They tend to stay in that range, so I hope that in the future, ma-embrance ng lahat na (everyone would embrace it) and it's okay na maging forward tayo sa fashion (we become forward in fashion). Kasi (because) in other countries, it's fine whatever you want to wear pero dito sa Philippines (here in the Philippines) if you wear something different, parang lahat i-cicriticize ka (everyone will criticize you). It's not parang you should stay here (in the lane of streetwear). Yun lang (That's all). (Smiles)