The Somnambulist

MANILA, Philippines - Three years into a career as one of local menswear’s most promising names, Ziggy Savella quietly vanished.

While he maintained a steady stream of clients — doing everything from staff uniforms to suits for wedding — his jarring absence from the roster of the next few seasons’ fashion shows became its own statement. His peers were evolving, more and more designers popping up every season, the industry changing — where was Ziggy in all of this?

There were no new collections, no splashy magazine editorials, no strategic celebrity patronage, and no aiming-for-viral fashion film. In an industry where being part of this season’s moment is only as important as being part of the next one’s, Ziggy Savella has conspicuously killed his own buzz — and he likes it that way.

“I didn’t stop designing,” he explains. “I just concentrated on my clients and projects and started fixing my place up — which was a reasonable amount of things to keep me entertained.”

Savella had gotten to a point where he wondered if there was space for his work before the public at large, outside of “must-have” pages in fashion magazines and shows of support from friends in the fashion industry. “I wanted to cater to normal people, the people who work in banks, the people who don’t work in fashion.”

A culture of velocity drives contemporary fashion, but Ziggy is doing his best not to become part of it. In a time of Instagrams touting so-and-so artista in so-and-so designer duds, in a time of #designedbyinsertdesignername hashtags and celebrity stylists, Ziggy is consciously slowing things down and focusing on what’s important to him.

“I guess I’m more concerned with creating something that isn’t half-baked and uninspired,” he says. “I hate the feeling of being pressured into something. That’s why I take things lightly and make sure that I am always capable of delivering something worthwhile. Anyway, my clothes aren’t supposed to shock people. It’s something that they should relate to and want.”

Ziggy Savella has never seemed interested in making grand statements about how people should dress or where he’s taking fashion. He doesn’t read fashion magazines, largely keeps away from blogs, and readily confesses to not keeping track of the latest trends. His work has always been subtle, quiet, utilitarian.

“Adaptive clothing — special needs clothing for the disabled and elderly — is the biggest inspiration in this collection so the vibe of the whole thing was very lounge-y and comfy,” he explains. “I lost my grandmother last year. She was the one who trained me in the technical skill of clothing construction and this was an homage to her. Manila Fashion Festival personally invited me to do a show for this season so the timing was perfect. I was feeling nostalgic and inspired. I had to do something about it.”

One word opened Ziggy’s show. “Honestlyyyy,” a disembodied voice sang out. “If it teeell…” It sounded familiar.

“It’s (a Lumidee cover) by MNEK!” Ziggy explains. “A personal choice of mine.” The refrain of Lumidee’s Never Leave You (Uh Ooh Uh Ooh), a fluke hit from 2003, famously goes  “If you want me to stay, then I’ll never leave you.” Prophetic, perhaps.

Will we have to wait two more years for another Ziggy Savella collection? “Not anymore.”        

Clothes by ZIGGY SAVELLA

Photos by BJ PASCUAL

Styled by REY ILAGAN and

ELDZS MEJIA

Makeup by OMAR ERMITA

Set design by PRINCESS

BARRETTO

Modeled by GENIE and

EDUARDO of Elite

Sittings by DAVID MILAN