One constant thing we have in this scene is that it’s ever-changing. There’s always new art styles to discover or fashion collections to catch up on, but the silver lining is that audiences only ask for this: the artist’s voice.
In this feature, we sit down and talk with Jethro Olba, one of the minds behind Antibiotic Smile, a nostalgia project started in 2020.
Antibiotic Smile started five years ago, “a pandemic passion project” as Jethro told us. The idea kicked in while juggling his day job as an illustrator, “What if gumawa ako ng brand na sakin?” Yun si Antibiotic Smile. So nag-start siya ng 2020. Isang t-shirt lang, graphic shirt, parang 20 pieces lang. Hanggang sa nag-join na rin yung brother ko tapos yung girlfriend ko. So kaming tatlo na yung gumagawa for the brand.”
Known for their vibrant colors and distinct illustrations, Jethro recalls that most of his inspirations come from his childhood. Throwing it back to the days when he and his brother would watch cartoons like Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999 – 2008), noting that they loved shows with weird proportions and loud colors. Since the two siblings really enjoyed consuming cartoons, they would draw and mimic the styles themselves when they were younger.
“Nilaro lang namin yung pangalan, very edgy na antibiotic plus smile, two contrasting words siya. Nagkaroon lang siya ng meaning after. So, cure siya for homesickness, kasi antibiotic.”
Both Antibiotic Smile & Jethro are rooted in nostalgia, from their inspiration down to the audience they aim to interest, “yung na-aattract ko is yung mga taong–gusto nila ng kulay or fun sa mga sinusuot or sa art nila.”
With this principle in mind, it gives the team a lot of playing ground when it comes to designing their collections. Each drop is different from the next one, but the design language of Antibiotic Smile remains cohesive all throughout. Jethro further explains that they try to keep things interesting by doing things they’re currently engaged in: “Yung thought process, basically gumagawa kami ng moodboard. Nilalatag namin kung ano ba yung mga bagay na interesado kami during that time. So for example, the last collection, may elements of jazz music, workwear amekaji, and then hardware. So yun yung mga bagay na parang trip namin nung time na yun.”
Aside from their own releases, the Antibiotic Smile team has a couple of collaborations under their belt as well. Their first collaboration was with streetwear brand Don’t Blame The Kids (DBTK), a project that Jethro credits as the kickstart of his career. After shooting his shot and sending in that message to the DBTK team, they got to work and the rest is history. It was a gradual process, from putting together Antibiotic Smile’s collections to the next collaboration after another, but eventually they found their spot in the scene.
“Sobrang open na siya [the streetwear and lifestyle scene]. Kahit ano na, pwede niyo nang gawin. May kanya-kanya nang niche or crowd. Hindi na focused sa trends. Ngayon, more on ano na yung sarili mong voice and ano ka bilang isang creative yung maganda dun. More on like, personal identity na.”
Since then, the Antibiotic Smile crew has made waves in the scene and they continue to do so. Just this past year, they teamed up with the classic brand Tretorn, for their customizable sneaker collection. Not only that but they also pair up with other local brands, from Van Gore to having their own collective of homegrown brands, called Friends at Function.
Continuing on the brand’s design language, they’re trying to inject Antibiotic Smile into other avenues. Namely their zine brand Never Made The Cut, a collection of unreleased Antibiotic Smile graphics, and Peace of Mind an extension of their brand. But one thing’s for certain, Antibiotic Smile will stay true to their messaging “we don’t always have to be so serious”, a saying that resonated with Jethro when he saw the brand featured online.
“Nung 2022 to 2023 very ivy league naman yung datingan niya [Antibiotic Smile]. Nung 2024, may konting skate graphics, and konting basketball din. So iniiba-iba ko rin yung look niya, pero stick pa rin dun sa pinaka-core na idea nung brand [nostalgia].”
Now, as Antibiotic Smile slowly becomes a staple in the scene, Jethro is excited to see where they can go from here. “Work in progress pa rin. Kasi for me, may challenge pa rin ako sa sarili ko bilang isang artist na “Hanggang ito na lang ba yun?” or like “Ano pa bang pwede kong magawa?” Yun yung iniisip ko lagi”, Jethro told us.
Link
Tweet
Share
