We’re stepping inside the spaces that take care of communities. From independent clothing labels holding it down in small studios to the coolest boutiques curating fits, we pull up, dig through the racks, and show you what makes each spot worth the visit.
For our next stop on STORE INVASION, we checked out this Salcedo hotspot, Atomic World.
When we were at the store, we got to chat with Fed Pua, Atomic World’s Creative Director about how it all started.
“We started around three years ago. I really wanted to just make clothes that were really fun” Fed explained. Noting that when you think of Philippine fashion it’s usually well crafted pieces with different silhouettes, but Fed was aiming for something more funky and casual.
“I wanted to make it more democratic by putting out something that is more easily wearable and is a bit more accessible in price point.”
Before creating their own brand, Atomic World’s store was known as It’s Vintage Vintage, housing all kinds of curated vintage pieces. “My entire wardrobe is vintage, but there was always one item that was missing that I can’t seem to source. So that’s why I wanted to make my own in-house line.”
Browsing through their store, there’s a lot of pieces for everyone, ranging from Atomic’s own line to vintage items. With Fed expressing that it’s a choose your own adventure kind of place, allowing anyone and everyone to find their style.
“I think that everyone is cool in their own right. The people who come in our doors are completely different. And I think they’re all equally cool because everyone who comes in here has their point of view and dresses their way, and makes it their own. “
When it comes to their in-house pieces, Fed mentions that they create from what they know, pulling references from childhood favorites. Even the store itself is mimicking what their dream room looks like,”you know when we were kids, we would stick all of our posters on the wall, and all of the things that would make us us. Like with music posters, with magazine cutouts.”
This mindset trickles down to designing the pieces as well, Atomic’s most known piece is their Bad Girls Go To Manila Tee, and Fed explains that the colorways were inspired by shades we would wear as kids: “When you grow older, fashion people always wear black, or maybe one color. But when we were kids, we would wear the craziest colors. So I think that was an homage to the childhood that I feel like is a shared experience between Filipino kids who grew up in Manila.”
Given its roots from vintage curation, the thing that Atomic World brings to the scene is their do it yourself approach and every piece from their in-house line is rooted in Manila culture. While the brand itself is on their baby steps, their point of view on fashion and Manila life keeps them grounded for the future. As Fed said:
“Manila is also so rich in popular culture, like budots, rave culture, and bands. I think that’s such a unique Filipino experience that hasn’t been explored a lot in fashion.”
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