AMEKAJI SPIRIT

In this tight-knit community, vintage garments serve as cherished relics, carrying the stories and craftsmanship of bygone eras.

- GABRIEL YAP

“PEOPLE USED TO CALL IT THE TITO LOOK,” laughs Joms Lunar. He is referring to Amekaji, a kind of style older men would naturally gravitate toward. At a glance, it’s easy to see why; members of this fashion community often wear garments that wouldn't look out of place in your parents’ or grandparents’ wardrobes from the ’50s and ’60s. But despite its old-school appeal, Lunar, a biker and the founder of an Amekaji store, believes what makes the subculture unique is how it celebrates age rather than rejects it. “Everything around the culture is rooted in quality and history,” he adds.

Over the past decade, Lunar has been instrumental in building the Amekaji community in the Philippines. Jeho Caluma, a menswear enthusiast and founder of a subgroup called the Broke Dapper Kids, shares a similar view. For him, its charm lies in the search for timeless pieces. “While others chase the latest trends, we're in thrift stores, discovering garments with history and character,” he says.