Plead the fifth

‘I just want them to wear this and feel like they stand for something bigger — being headstrong and unapologetic about their individuality.’

MANILA, Philippines - Lorenz Namalata is just about to graduate from college, but he’s got a bit of a head start on his batchmates. At just 21, his three-year-old RTW brand Fifth Code has slowly but steadily built a loyal following among his peers—not to mention among the country’s leading magazines. It’s Lorenz’s caps you’ve seen on the pretty heads of young stars like Julia Barretto and Kathryn Bernardo, all over the Instagrams of tastemakers, and in the pages of top magazines like Preview and Garage.

Before his new collection debuts, Lorenz talks to Young STAR about Rihanna, celebrity fans, and schoolin’ life.

YOUNG STAR: What did you set out to do with this collection?

LORENZ NAMALATA: It’s my tenth release for Fifth Code and I thought it was high time for me to collaborate so I can offer something new again. I’m having a sweater phase — the same way I was into the whole blazer thing back then.

I wanted to produce my own prints and that’s where the collaboration with Jake Ruiz happened. Jake is the older brother of Nikki (my photographer). He’s a graphic artist and both of them are really talented and the idea resonated when I first brought it up with them. Both are really big streetwear enthusiasts and they have a strong influence on me.

Your last collection was received really well. Did success help or hinder you?

With the release of the caps, I think it just validated that I’m better off doing RTW than doing custom made! (Laughs) But it’s really more gratifying and I enjoy seeing it on a lot of people. I’m excited as I expand into other products and see where I can pour my design ideas into. I’m definitely more open now to commissioning other artists or collaborating with them so I get to grow the brand.

What or who inspired the collection?

The idea of having the crocodile faux leather snapbacks along with the snake-skin prints on the sweaters really just happened organically. Aside from the snake skin being a huge trend for S/S 2014, I really wanted to incorporate snakes because I like the brand to be embodied by their traits, how they’re very cunning and they’re just in it for the kill!

My aim all the time when I design anything is to make my customer feel good or confident when they wear my stuff, I just want them to wear this and feel like they stand for something bigger — and that’s being headstrong and unapologetic about their individuality. Irreverent for sure!

If you could dress anyone, who would it be?

Too many to mention? (Laughs) But off the top of my head, Rihanna would most definitely be there along with Chris Brown. Both personalities, despite how toxic and out of control they seem to be, I admire because they just do their own thing despite judgments and criticisms. I think it’s really important how you should just own up to everything, flaws and all. Clothes can only do so much for you and personality trumps looks any day. 

Finally, most kilig moment for Fifth Code so far?

The Preview feature which happened twice with the caps and blazers took me by surprise. I know for sure that I listed that goal down before 2013. I remember writing down that I wanted Fifth Code to be recognized by Preview and you know, true enough, it happened. In my head I was just checking that off my bucket list when I saw the magazine. (Laughs) And I always find it cool whenever local teen stars get to wear Fifth Code items because they capture that youth spirit that is inherently what my brand is about.

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Check out Fifth Code on www.fifth-code.com.

Photos by Nikki Ruiz, Modeled by Carlos Laurel, Marco Estella, and Michael Angeles, Hair and makeup by Celest Lavina