People are talking about how “The Broken Marriage Vow” has spread the word on Philippine-made fashion products to a new level. By incorporating the merchandise of Filipino creatives and artisans in a daily series, serving as actual costumes of its characters—from Zarah Juan’s funky native bags to Filip+Inna’s exquisite linen coats embroidered by indigenous women in Lake Sebu—the series has taught many viewers how to love local like never before.
While this, of course, is fantastic news for an industry hit by the pandemic for the past two years, we think there’s another thing “The Broken Marriage Vow” has accomplished in terms of local fashion—it has demonstrated to Pinoy men that they can actually be part of the whole wear-Filipino conversation. By putting its actors Zanjoe Marudo, Zaijian Jaranilla and Franco Laurel in creations by Niño Franco and other homegrown labels and designers, it has shown how guys can actually incorporate local stuff in their everyday and special occasion wardrobes.
We can only hope, of course, that men are watching the soap opera based on the BBC series “Dr. Foster”—whose narrative can be described as every marupok husband’s biggest nightmare. The chilling drama about a doctor who wrecks havoc on her philandering husband’s life has been adapted in Korea, France, Russia, India and Turkey, and versions from Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia are believed to follow. In the Philippines, the story is set in Baguio, and the series’ visual palette—a cooled down version of the City of Pines’ Valley of Colors in La Trinidad—blends perfectly with the clothes chosen for the show.
Series director and costume design head Connie Macatuno shares her vision for the male characters’ wardrobe to ANCX. “As with most of the characters of TBMV, I wanted to add elements to break away from the typical look of each character. The vision for David Ilustre is to break the nerd stereotype for architects and make him contemporary and rugged,” says Macatuno. Which is just as well—Baguio men are famously attached to their leather jackets, denim jeans and hiking boots. “This classic James Dean-ish vibe, with a leather satchel, is a fit for a Baguio-grown David Ilustre's contemporary architect look,” adds the director who also makes handpainted fashion and home furnishings under her Lokal Home+Art+Fashion.
Other homegrown pieces that made its way to David Ilustre’s wardrobe include a graphic handpainted inabel gas boy polo shirt, a pair of black leather boots with an unexpected solihiya detail (“Brings out that manly power into David’s every step.”), a roundneck top from Niño Franco with sequin detail, and the Marikina-made Lalapatos pair of shoes made of combination leather and upcycled coffee and chips packaging (because the architect David is “big on sustainability,” one of his few admirable traits.)
Guys don’t usually know what to do with themselves when they’ve been dragged by their wives or girlfriends to an Artefino or Maarte event—even if there are actually stuff made for them in these big bazaars that spotlight local fashion and accessories, just ask Monchet Olives who usually curates a special spot dedicated to men during Artefino season. Hopefully, Zanjoe’s costumes have shown them there’s a place for handpainted and embroidered stuff in a man’s wardrobe, and that wearing Filipino these days doesn’t only mean barong nor does it mean looking like they’re off to shoot a DOT campaign in Intramuros.
“One of the challenges in putting the men in our local textiles is the limited brands who make local menswear utilizing local weaves,” says Macatuno. “One other reason is probably because men like neutrals and our local weaves are mostly vibrant and passionate in colors.” Either way, she’s hoping “The Broken Marriage Vow” is the beginning of something. “Hopefully, with what TBMV has started, there will be more menswear using Philippine weaves for daily use.”