Local underground fashion is like gold in the rough: raw, unrefined, yet full of potential. This sentiment captures the essence of Elijah Contillo’s work. An artist first, a fashion designer second, and a storyteller always. Elijah is a familiar name in the underground scene. If you’re even slightly tapped in, you’ve likely come across his runway shows or design pieces.
From the Underground
His journey began around 2012 when he discovered the concept of street art. Surrounded by Caloocan’s local artists, he found his tribe—creatives who unknowingly gave him a framework for how to move with purpose, values, and heart. Elijah took that energy and ran with it, curating his own events and recreating the emotion and soul of the spaces that inspired him.
By 2018, Gold was born. Not a brand at first, but more like an outcry for a platform. It started as a Facebook page that turned into a creative dump turned streetwear experiment. Gold began with trial and error. They printed what they liked, sold what stuck, and gave away what didn’t. Since then, Elijah has collaborated with local and international brands, bringing an instinctive feel to fashion and slowly becoming a blueprint for independent creatives trying to build from scratch.
“Most of the time, if you see my shit, you know it’s mine.”
If You Know, You Know
As a young artist stepping into a space dominated by giants, Elijah’s work carries an “if you know, you know” kind of energy: familiar to those in the scene but hard to pin down. It’s rebellious yet intentional, raw but confident. More than any specific design choice, it’s the overall feeling that defines his style.
Elijah draws from poverty not as a theme but as the foundation of his work. While others might see his creativity as a career stepping stone, the reality of it is, for him it is an escape plan. That fighting spirit is at the core of everything he does.
“Being a full time artist in the Philippines is survival of the fittest. It’s a physical and mental game that anyone can play but not everyone can win.”
Story to Tell
The fashion game is full of characters like Elijah—people trying to break through by grit, by force, or by design. His story is a testament to those who make things happen without asking for permission, who step into the spotlight because they believe they deserve to be seen. It’s a tough game, but Elijah is built for it.
Follow Elijah Contillo’s story on Instagram and check out his new projects on Gold World.
