A longboarder’s soft spot for tailored shirts

MANILA, Philippines - Whenever I consider dudes who do sports, I inevitably think of white tube socks and terrycloth headbands — very ‘90s, I know. Another athletic stereotype that I cling to also happens to be stuck in that decade: the skater. In my mind, a boy with a board probably resembles Brekin Meyer’s perpetually tardy and disheveled Travis Birkenstock in Clueless.

It takes little effort, however, for Ateneo Men’s Football Team captain and decorated longboarder Gerard Cancio to lay my presumptions to rest. No tube socks in sight as he sports a spot of bare ankle in between neatly pressed and cuffed pants, paired with black leather slip-ons. Though he and Birkenstock look good with their hair tucked behind their ears, he eschews the Clueless stoner’s baggy shirts and oversized flannel in favor of tailored shirts by his own brand, The Daily Shirting Company, which he started with friends Mikko Santos and Joey Osmeña.

“We were always drawn to the same qualities in clothing — clean, simple, and classic — but could never find enough in the local RTW market to match the standards that we were looking for,” the 27-year-old entrepreneur shares. “We called it ‘The Daily’ because of the three pillars that our brand rests on: wearability, adaptability, and quality. Wearability and adaptability describe clothing that is easy to wear, and easy to pair with other clothing pieces. We want our customers to be able to grab a shirt and a pair of pants from their closet, then put the two together and look great without the effort. This is why we focus on men’s staple pieces. Menswear is growing in the Philippines, evident in the new local and international men’s brands that are entering the market. Or just look around you and see what Filipino men have been wearing, and try to recall how different it was just a few years back.”

If it’s all right, we’d rather not revisit a time when men didn’t know the importance of collar point length and spread or, more alarmingly, how to artfully, yet casually roll up a shirt sleeve.

Though he cleans up nicely for his day job, it doesn’t mean that he can’t still roll with the homies. After all, this is a guy who placed 10th and 18th in the qualifying and final rounds of the International Gravity Sports Association Downhill Skateboard World Championships in Australia. “Though the branding and styling of The Daily Shirting Company leans more towards that dapper and gentlemanly image, the truth is that the products don’t discriminate against other aesthetics and styles,” he intimates. “In my case, I would wear my blue Oxford shirt with leather shoes as easily as I would with a pair of sneakers or beat-up skate shoes.”

The Daily Shirting Company is located at Unit 201 Greimel Building 7838, Makati Avenue, Makati City. They are also available at Retail Lab on the 2/F Power Plant Mall, Makati City.

YSTYLE: What are the top five things that you think every guy should own?

GERARD CANCIO:

Basic long sleeve shirts in white, pale blue and pink. Not necessarily in a formal fabric, but maybe those that can last through a little wear-and-tear like Oxford cotton or chambray.

Brown leather shoes. They tend to be more versatile than a black pair, especially when in a darker shade.

A classic watch. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and like your cellular phone, a watch can also do more than just tell the time (I’m sure I read that somewhere).

Grown-up sneakers. I love my fair share of high tech trainers like the Nike Flyknit, but a cleaner and more classic sneaker much like the Achilles of Common Projects or even a pair of canvas Supergas or Van’s Authentics can go further and can transition to slightly dressier occasions.

Formalwear — either a navy or a grey suit, and a barong. I think both are necessary in this age and in the next few years to come as more and more of your friends get married.

Do you visit any men’s style blogs/websites? What are your top five?

Sometimes. GQ.com and The Journal at MrPorter.com have a good amount of content. A Continuous Lean (Acontinuouslean.com) is a good resource for heritage menswear content. Locally, you should check out Kevin Yapjoco’s Bespokemanblog.com. He has a lot of insights with regard to tailored clothing and shares his experiences with local retail.

Where do you shop?

Right now most of what I wear on a regular basis is by The Daily Shirting Company. This includes all my shirts, and a large selection of chino samples that we are yet to launch. For other stuff it’s a mix of online shopping and local retailers in the usual Makati malls.

What’s the last thing you purchased?

One of those leather key-holders with multiple rings for my house and office keys, from Robinson’s department store and a short-sleeve popover shirt from The Daily Shirting Company.

Who inspires you?

My friends and their successes.

Favorite wardrobe piece you keep turning to?

My blue Oxford cotton shirt by The Daily Shirting Company. Not a shameless plug and it isn’t a lie either; I wear one two to three days in a week.

Most insane garment you’ve ever purchased?

A custom leather racing suit for downhill skateboard racing. Well, I didn’t buy it myself, but it’s definitely the most insane garment I own and the best gift ever.

What would you never be caught dead in?

Mandals (man-sandals) — no offense of course to those who wear them.

Favorite city: New York City

Favorite drink: Slaapmutske Bruin Beer, available through the Global Beer Exchange bottle shop at Magallanes.

Favorite label/s: Nike, GANT Rugger, Acne, Ralph Lauren

Favorite Sunday afternoon haunt: Skating with friends Photos by Cholo dela Vega