Meet the Converse #RatedOneStar collectives.
Photography by Koji Arboleda Styling by Florian Trinidad Art Direction by Grace De Luna
WHEN WE were younger, we were taught about the binaries of good and evil, light and dark, heroes and villains. The heroes are washed immaculate and always emerge triumphant against the ugly, evil villains. In books, movies, and even stories from our relatives we’ve heard the same story told in so many different ways, but always in the same formulaic structure.
But as we grow older we realize that it’s not always the same case of black cast against white, and that rules can, and will eventually be, broken. In popular culture or people generally going against the grain—have always been there, just not getting the recognition that they earned.
The Converse One Star, once a shoe designed for the court, has now found its place within the fringes of subcultures, pair of One Stars are neither your uncle’s heirloom pair of sneakers nor part of your younger sibling’s Friday night get up; it’s found itself on ground covered by the hiphop and punk scenes.
As we recognize the Converse One Star’s rise from an underdog to a worldcelebrated shoe, we put the spotlight on four Filipino artists who are paving their own lane. Meet the Converse Philippines anti-heroes. JESS CONNELLY, recording artist: Ho ould ou de ne our st le JC: the mood to play around, when there’s an opportunity [like this shoot]. But usually I just go with whatever I can just throw on, walk out the door, and feel good and comfortable. I don’t give as much thought into [what I wear] nowadays. I’m learning how to build my wardrobe where it’s a “throw on and go, feel good what I’m wearing.” Do you also consider yourself as an anti hero As so eone ho ust does her o n thing JC: I’ve been strong about from the beginning and something I wouldn’t change about myself. Now, I think it’s normal to think for it wasn’t “normal” for girls to wear baggy clothing. Now I see girls not just wearing men’s clothes, but girls shaving their head or just doing whatever they want. So it’s like, f*** trends, I’ll just do whatever I want.
JESSICA YAN , odel, recording artist, and illustrator: i en that you re a odel, ho are your style ins irations JY: I don’t really have a style inspiration. It’s really up to my mood. Sometimes it’s up to the music I listen in the morning, sometimes it depends on how I want to play with my makeup. I don’t like being the same all the time. I’m not a trendy girl. I make my own style. What do you feel about being part of the ated One Star ca paign JY: For me One Star is perfect. It’s really like me. When I was a kid I was really teacher’s pet, I was like the perfect girl with the perfect grades and I was also the oldest sister, my younger brother’s role model. I didn’t go out and I just stayed at home. When I was in high school I was prom queen but just because the teacher loved me. Not because I was popular, but because my teacher wanted me to win. JAY Y, hip hop artist and entrepreneur: ell us a little about yourself and about your process with what you do.
: I would consider myself a recording artist. I’ve been working on music for the longest time, almost 12 years now, and it’s been a journey. Aside from making music, I’m also a partner for one of the local brands called UNSCHLD. I’m also an employee for this other brand called PROGRESS.
Aside from my own individual music I also work with LDP and Bawal Clan. Also, and my girl, we have this one brand too but it’s focused on accessories, it’s called Free Spirit.
When it comes to making music, my whole thing is base everything on experience. It’s easier for me to write whenever there’s a beat ahead of me. That serves as somewhat a guide for me. It’s always better to have a beat so you can What do you feel about being part of the ated One Star ca paign
: It’s an experience. [ I’m excited] not just because of the people in it but the vision itself. That a company would believe in these artists’ personality and individuality is one thing. And it’s another thing too that all of these big names from other countries are put on... it’s crazy man.
Being a part of this campaign is an honor. I’m really humbled to be a part of what’s going on right now for Converse. It’s a perfect time too for the Philippines to be part of that. There’s a lot of talent out here-not just me, not just the four people in the campaign. It’s time for everyone else to see what we have going on out here. AND E D ILON, artist:
Do you see yourself as an anti hero
AD: Yes, because I don’t think I follow the norms. I tried for the sake of convenience. It’s just easier, but...for the longest time I thought following the norm was within the conventions. I understand that it’s functional to work within these conventions, but I don’t see myself as functional within these conventions. That’s why I’m trying to pave my own path. For me, it’s sort of a frontier. You re a ultihyphenate. Where do you nd yourself between the elds you wor on AD:
Yes, I think I’ve come to terms that I thrive in chaos. For the longest time I’m trying to look for my rails. You’re always looking for something to sustain you, the one thing that you love. And I’ve been frustrated because for the longest time I had been bouncing from hobby to interest and that everything I abandoned I had felt so guilty for abandoning. Because it seemed like a waste. But now I realized that you can apply that to anything. My programming and 3D design, I can apply that to my photography. literature to fashion. It’s interdisciplinary.