PRELUDE TO MAJOR LEAGUES
Though oftentimes seen sitting alone at the VIP, Job Dacon doesn’t feel lonely at the top. One of the fastest-rising designers in the land, Dacon has steadily made inroads into the finicky world of fashion. Born in Rosario, Cavite, Dacon is a forensic psychology graduate from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Highly imaginative, his course must have served him well as evident in his career trajectory.
“This was quite a roller-coaster, as I have started out as a graphic artist, then a terno contest invited me to join, hence, birthing our “Spoliarium” Terno. This amazing piece was discovered by my mentor, Rocky Gathercole, and my fashion journey started there,” noted Dacon, 28.
His meteoric rise continued last year, as he gushed about his accomplishments on his Instagram:
“2023 has been a wild year and we got to experience a lot of things we thought wasn’t possible on our three years of existence.
“We got to star in a movie, got featured in the pages of Mega magazine, Vogue Philippines, Preview, Harper’s Bazaar US, attended the GMA Ball with the legendary Eula Valdes, attended one of the grandest weddings, that of Alodia Gosiengfiao.
“We dressed up the film mogul and award-winning Dolly de Leon, and made unforgettable looks at the Opulence Ball for Raymond Gutierrez, Ruffa Gutierrez, Chie Filomeno and Anne Curtis.
“We crafted iconic looks for Drag Race Philippines on both mama Paolo Ballesteros and our queens OV Cunt, M1ss Jade So, Marina Summers, Eva Le ueen, Turing Quinto, Hana Beshie and Arizona Brandy.
“We dressed the drag lord herself Manila Luzon and queens Hey Mrs. Tan and Pura Luka Vega, and last but definitely not least, our Paraiso Beer Calendar Girl, President Nadine Lustre.
“But the fun does not stop there as 2023 also marked our breakthrough from here to the international stage. We got to dress @akon, Dancing with the Stars, The White House Inauguration, getting our pieces to the Netherlands by
Anna Psy, and making a bodice entirely out of gemstones for Egyptian royalty, Amun Starr.
“Our hearts at team Job Dacon are eternally grateful to everyone that stayed and buckled up for this ride. This year wasn’t perfect and the path is not the smoothest, but we slayed that bumpy road and left no crumbs.
“2024 is going to be a blast and we’re going global. Trust and believe.”
So, to start the year in a sensational way, Dacon is unleashing a collection he calls “Act I: Prelude.”
“These are all prototypes of what’s to come very soon. Each piece has its own significant function and aesthetic, most notably, the nude draped corset dress and the bodysuit corset that gives the wearer that vintage-y wasp figure prominent in eras past.
Dacon used a mixed bag of fabrics but mostly custom-printed and vintage fabrics
“My latest collection leans on the cerebral end of the fashion spectrum. It focuses on history, biology and space,” explained Dacon. “The looks are still in production, but expect our signature wasp waist to make a comeback. We shall be modernizing what was once in vogue centuries before.”
Let’s delve into the highly imaginative mind of a design genius:
AESTHETIC. “Our pieces are custommade, tailored to fit our dear clientele. Our market is a goodie bag filled with diverse people: from drag artists to award-winning actresses not just in our soil, but to the rest of the world as well. Price range varies, but the quality is always right.”
“Our studio specializes in the macabre and the magnificent. I have adapted my mentor’s teachings and turning it into pensive, haunting and beautifully executed pieces. I think my love for the peculiar led me to where we are at right now. Picture our aesthetic as a lovely evening stroll in the graveyard filled with bushes of red roses and night jasmine. Haunting, but surreal.”
INSPIRATIONSANDINFLUENCES.“I am inspired by the different aspects of history, most especially the juxtaposition of monarchy and war times, where there is a certain beauty, dare I say art, in the midst of battle.
“Needless to say, my influences are rooted on historical figures such as Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, and Anne Boleyn, just to name a few. My contemporary influences include my mentor, Rocky Gathercole, Alexander McQueen and HR Giger.
“As for the Job Dacon muse, she is fearless, bold and always a femme fatale. Nadine Lustre, Eula Valdes, Ruffa Gutierrez, Manila Luzon and Eva Le Queen being some of our many muses.”
MUSES. “Our celebrity clients include award-winning artists Nadine Lustre, Anne Curtis, Cherie Gil, Ruffa Gutierrez, Raymond Gutierrez, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Maymay Entrata, Andrea Brillantes, Paolo Ballesteros, Chie Filomeno, Eula Valdes, Myrtle Sarrosa, KZ Tandingan and many, many more.
“We have our esteemed drag artists Manila Luzon, Alaska 5000, Eva Le Queen, Marina Summers, M1ss Jade So, ØV Cünt, Pura Luka Vega, Hey Mrs. Tan, Turing Quinto and more.
“We also have our pageant queens Michelle Marquez Dee, Adriana Moya, Celeste Cortesi, Rabiya Mateo, Megan Young, Samantha Bernardo, Beatrice Gomez and, of course, our Miss Universes, Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray
“My dream is to dress one of my idols, the OG supermodel Carmen Dell’Orefice. She has a timeless, strong and imposing presence that stands the test of time.”
EXPANSION PLANS. “For the time being, we are building up our humble atelier from its foundations. We sincerely hope that we would branch out into the beauty community as I am a sucker for a good scent (namely, Christian Dior Poison 1987 Extrait).”
WISH AND CHALLENGE. “My wish for the local industry is for it to discover itself. We have our own true values and aesthetics, and we should embrace it.
“Being a young designer, it is always a challenge to shift peoples’ perspectives into a richer and darker realm of fashion as our scene is quite glam-centric. My goal is to show a more streamlined and a darker side of fashion.”