Words by: Mariel Abanes
Glorious Dias, very much like its current home Manila, carries a treasure trove of one-of-kind-gems waiting to be discovered. It must be fate, really, that led the shop's creative genius Jodinand Aguillon to settle in its humble home in HUB: Make Lab in First United Building in Escolta, Manila—a place that altogether gathers and celebrates artistic and local pursuits.
"We're contextualized within an almost-100 year old building, within old Manila’s commercial district that celebrates independent makers and businesses now, I think it's very much in line with the things that we also champion in Glorious Dias," the entrepreneur emphasizes. "We really found 'the home' in Escolta."
And it's here that the founder further spreads the love for all things vintage—and Filipino. What started out as a standalone store in Poblacion eventually had to close and find a temporary retail space online when the pandemic hit. Fast forward to signing a six-month pop-up agreement in its present homebase to finally taking up a bigger space inside the Hub, more and more individuals seeking unique finds have found a home in Glorious Dias.
Of course, unearthing great pieces from heaps and piles of garments and knickknacks isn't exactly a foreign concept to many, but through his years of experience in working with vintage, Jodinand knows exactly how to update their racks and shelves.
"You gotta keep it fresh for yourself," he says when asked about how he keeps things interesting around the shop. "So I'm always on the look out for stuff. I guess it's because I'm always curious and always looking. I don’t really get bored—I don’t really give myself a chance to get bored. That’s how I kind of make it a little bit fresh for myself."
Thus, the surprise in every nook and cranny is a wonderful gift for every visitor stepping inside this treasure hunt paradise. "I think vintage shopping is inherently a hit and miss at the end of the day," Jodinand muses. "There's a sense of gamble of how you can just spend a whole day looking and maybe coming home with nothing. And that's okay, because there will also be times when you'd hit jackpot and score some amazing finds. And we love sharing that with people."
Elevating the business further are their reworked threads that make use of local textiles, reinventing very Pinoy pieces into wearable art. Case in point: Jodinand's favorite mesh jerseys crafted from old curtains, as well as their bestselling pinafore tops made out of the barong.
The creative tells BLNC how the idea stemmed from reimagining the surplus of vintage clothing lying around his abode during the pandemic, which were tailored as something that one can easily throw on—whether you're actually going out or simply attending meetings on Zoom. But beyond its practicially, the pieces also hold more meaning.
"We took such an iconic Filipino staple like this basketball jersey and imbibed what inherently is a feminine textile, which is lace, with it," he explains. This merge in textiles created a fashion statement that bends heteronormative rules that each of these textiles traditionally represent. "There's so much more to it [when I create a piece]. There's always a thought process of why," Jodinand adds.
Embodying not just sense but also purpose, the Glorious Dias owner highlights the connections he makes on the job as the best part of running the business.
"The community is probably the best part about this process. A lot of times, we're not really trying to sell anything. We’re just trying to share and connect,"
he shares.
When asked about Glorious Dias' next move, the creative says they only have one direction to go: the path to getting better. "I think the initial reflex is to sustain focus, but part of the reason we stay who we are is we love everything. We want to embrace as much as we can, share as much as we can, stay curious, and continue to experiment. And wherever that leads us, we'll be exactly where we need to be," Jodinand thoughtfully ends.
Bts Video: Jan dendiego (@dendiegojan)
Editorial Video: Isaiah Omaña (wzykid)
Art director: Jobo Nacpil (@jobonacpil
Photo: Meinard Navato (@mpnavato) with Joshua Navato (@joshnavato)
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