LOOK: This new menswear brand champions sustainable tropical dressing
Creative Definitions brings Aire, a conscious fashion line that is airy and comfy
For the third week of Artefino, the festival puts a spotlight on an innovation that blends tradition and technology. Meet Aire, a new sustainable fashion brand under social enterprise Creative Definitions that revolutionizes men’s tropical dressing.
Founded by Mike and Banj Claparols, the pieces from Aire use local textiles extracted from discarded pineapple leaves. For its maiden collection, the capsule focuses on the airiness of tropical dressing. “It is breathable, comfortable, crisp, and functional. Images of the quintessential gentleman farmer come to mind, who would likely insist that ‘hacienda dressing should be fresco,’” describes the brand.
“The idea is [that you can wear it] from city to resort. Aire is all about form and function with less fuss,” says Luis Espiritu, creative director for Aire. “Garments defined by elegant lines and light natural fabrics in soothing hues, that today’s elegant gentleman can wear on any occasion. Many of the silhouettes recall the laid back style of European summers, but with a distinctive Filipino twist.”
Aire also pays tribute to one of the founders’ father, Ed Claparols a.k.a. “The Father of Mechanized Sugarcane Farming.” Mike’s father was instrumental in setting up the First Farmers Sugar Central in serving the sugarcane planters of Talisay, Negros Occidental. Ed is also a distinguished gentleman known for his “air of presence” whenever he enters a room. In addition, his wardrobe is filled with elegant menswear pieces which Aire hopes to bring about in the modern age.
Apart the efforts of bringing pineapple fabric to the forefront of fashion, Mike and Banj also aim to bring in more livelihood to Negros-based artisans not only providing quality menswear to the industry but also support to the hard-working farmers on the locality.
Aire’s first collection features monochromatic pieces in orange, black, blue, brown, cream, green, and gray translated into silhouettes of blazers, pants, shorts, jackets, open collar polos, belted shirt jackets, and wide leg pants.
See more of the pieces below:
