Jman’s Tokyo drift

MANILA, Philippines - Just in time for Philippine Fashion Week, we encountered another Filipino designer who is making waves in Tokyo. Johann Manas started out as a photographer, having studied the craft in New York, and later got to collaborate with Jun Escario for shoe design.

A designer of men’s wear, Johann got accepted into the Vantan Design Institute in Tokyo and was able to showcase his creations at Tokyo Fashion Week after only two years in the industry. He hopes to be able to take his designs to New York Fashion Week in March 2013.

What inspired you to get into fashion design?

I started with photography, which was cut short due to personal reasons. Years after that I decided to do something completely different and took shoe-making classes. I’m a shoe lover. I also met designer Vania Romoff, who encouraged me so much to make use of my artistic tendencies.

How did you start?

I had to find ways to make use of my creative juices since I stopped doing photography.

I took weekend classes for shoe making, men’s shoes for that matter. I met people in the industry who encouraged me and liked my stuff. I had a chance to work with Jun Escario for his fashion watch resort collection. I made some of his men’s shoes then I started with an online brand, Jman, which I carried on to Tokyo Fashion Week. I made ready-to-wear clothes for men and bespoke men’s shoes. And then while working on these I submitted my portfolio to the Vantan Design Institute in Tokyo for an international program.

It was a combination of right timing, meeting the people in the industry, my experience from
different industries, luck and faith that led me here.

What was it like being part of Tokyo Fashion Week despite being new to the industry?

OMG! Amazing! Surreal! It was a life-changing experience especially for a new designer like me. It was an honor to present alongside fellow designers from other countries. I am a proud Filipino. Most, of if not all, of my clothes were made in the Philippines.

What do you love working on as a designer?

I love researching for inspiration. Different sights, sounds, texture, even smell and taste can inspire you.

And I enjoy it I so much especially if you encounter it and it ends up as one of my inspirations.

Anything in particular that usually inspires you?

Camouflage and toy soldiers. I like repeating patterns, disruptive print materials to be exact.

Military camouflage is just an example of this. So much detail goes into everything soldiers wear and use. Even something as simple as military buttons, they have so much detail and function.

What do you feel about the possibility of being part of New York Fashion Week in March 2013?

Well, I’m being positive, keeping my fingers crossed and praying hard that I get selected to be one of the four designers from our program that will present in NYFW this coming Feb 2013.

What does it take to get in?

Wow, good question! It all depends on the panel of Japanese designers who watched the show. They have different backgrounds as designers. I think they might be looking for someone who best represents Japanese fashion for the international market.

Do you plan to represent Philippine fashion to the world some time in the future?

Of course, proudly! Even now, I always try to showcase to the local designers here what our country is capable of doing. Photos by Mau MauricioGrooming by Au MauricioAll clothes from JMan