“You make the most of every minute you go out. Ngayon kasi limited yung oras natin e, tsaka limited yung mapupuntahan.” That comes from a guy who went out in a full pink faux fur look to feed stray cats in the middle of a pandemic, multimedia arts student and nightlife photographer Mike Eduardo—or for those familiar with his online (and offline, actually) persona, Supersonic Siomai.
Why Siomai? The 24-year-old originally wanted to do drag and wanted a whimsical but “slightly stupid” name. For someone who only started making and wearing bigger than life garments 2 years ago, he sure knows his references. Among his inspirations are the Club Kids in the ’90s, avant garde designer Rick Owens, “The People’s Designer” Jeremy Scott, Japanese avant garde figure Yohji Yamamoto with a splash of fun care of ’90s cartoons like Power Puff Girls.
His clothes are neck-breaking (his words) and head turning. Think otherworldly proportions, blinding fluorescent colors, and arresting headpieces. One of the pieces he is proudest of is a jacket made from 24 bootleg Supreme belt bags hand sewn together, which he first debuted in Glorietta for a casual stroll. “When I got home, this guy posted pictures of me online,” Siomai told Lifestyle Inquirer. “I was just shocked na “Uy, ako yun! Nasa internet na ako, viral na ako—in a way. Like slightly viral.’”
More than anything, his creations (for his personal archive, for now) are a commentary on consumerism and our obsession with brands. “Gusto ko na may logo rin ’yung akin pero kailangan nakakatawa or marerecognize nila. It has to come from a different place not specifically clothing, pero it’s applied to clothing.”
