MANILA, Philippines – Swedish Patrik Franksson is the male face of Sunnies Studios — the only dude to grace the now-famous Sunnies ads, besides Georgina Wilson and supermodel-on-the-rise Kelsey Merritt. Modeling is more like a part-time job, though. Most of the time, he’s hitting the field hard as a professional football player.
On the other hand, Mikko Marcelo is a fixture in magazines like Garage and Chalk as a male model favorite. Thanks in part to his tattoos, the Enderun student already has a distinctive look — one that magazines and brands can’t seem to get enough of.
Meanwhile, Luis Hontiveros is an in-demand male model who’s been cultivating a pretty strong social media following all by himself. He’s already graced ads as far-ranging as Max’s and Onesimus.
Together with Gil Cuerva, Vince Vandorpe, Max Berardi and Luke Conde, the IM Agency models comprise the #nicebrosquad, a male model collective that claims to place brotherhood over competition.
We put the #nicebrosquad in equally nice shirts from Artwork’s Forever Danny, a limited-edition shirt line that aims to upgrade the school-friendly plain polo with bold graphic prints and statement illustrations. With products for both boys and girls, Forever Danny stands out from the cluttered retail space with a look and feel all its own — bold, silk-screened prints on good boy shirts you can wear to family dinners.
Artwork’s long been a college favorite for its quirky designs, unconventional point of view, and affordable price points. This time, the brand shows that it can do straight-laced and a bit more dressed up, too. Like the nice bros themselves, it’s the kind of shirt line you can bring home to Mom.
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Forever Danny is available in selected Artwork stores nationwide: Glorietta 1; TriNoma; SM Manila; UP Town Center; Abreeza, Davao; Ayala Center Cebu; Harbor Point, Subic; Marquee, Pampanga; and SM City Cebu. Follow @artworktshirtson Instagram. Guy’s button-downs start at P1,199.75 (short sleeves) and P1,299.75 (long sleeves).
Follow @nicebrosquad on Instagram.
Patrik franksson, 20, @patrikfranksson
How did you get into modeling?
A friend of mine was in IM agency and recommended me to them. I’d been told I should try modeling before but never took it as seriously as I have football. But then I thought I could give it a try when I have free time to meet new people and earn money.
When you’re not doing shoots, what are you usually doing?
Playing football, training, working out, hanging out with friends. Eating and sleeping a lot to recover. Just enjoying life.
What makes #nicebros nice?
Instead of having a rivalry among us models, we want all of us to succeed. We are actually friends who hang out outside of modeling and work. No one is bringing down the others; we try to lift each other up!
Michael marcelo, 22, @mikkomarcelo
How did you get into modeling?
In a hole in the ground there lived Mikko Marcelo, and he wanted money...
When you’re not doing shoots, what are you usually doing?
I read Murakami, play Metal Gear, probably just sleeping or eating Hawaiian pizza and mojos with the babe.
What makes #nicebros nice?
Sh*t!! We are NOT nice! Hahaha!
Luis hontiveros, 21, @luishontiverosonly7
How did you get into modeling?
I was discovered by a booker from IM Agency which I’m signed with now.
When you’re not doing shoots, what are you usually doing?
I work out, read, watch movies, and hang out with family and friends. And sleep of course — most important and fun thing to do!
What makes #nicebros nice?
We are all genuinely nice and we have this very unusual bond… You could say that we are happy go lucky, but we are just all about good vibes and fun, but still with that sense of maturity and responsibility in life. #nicebro
Photos by Ralph Mendoza
Sittings by Raymond Ang
Modeled by Mikko, Patrik, and Luis of IM Agency