Aljames Campo

The ‘Baybaylan’ was a female role during pre-colonisation Philippines; but there were also male practitioners - these male shamans did not conform to normative western masculine standards, as they crossed dressed and appeared effeminate or sexually ambiguous.

Throughout my journey, everyday practices, and day-to-day life, I have always tended to question men’s fashion. Why is there a stigmatization and a sense of conformity to menswear? The underlying question of what is considered to be acceptable for men to wear and what is not - a categorization between the juxtaposition of masculinity and femininity.

Through the lens of my Philippine culture, I was able to further my research and grow knowledge of my own culture, roots, and identity as an individual. Focusing on the balance of masculinity and femininity; the in-betweenness that existed in my culture during pre-colonization.

This body of work explores the differentiation between menswear and womenswear clothing, portraying my ideology and concept via used methodologies and Philippine cultural influences. Menswear is interpreted via soft tailoring - consisting of deconstructed designs that adjust to the shape and natural movement of the body.