With a long list of sold-out collections and smash collaborations, starting a streetwear brand seems to be the go-to business for many young designers and artists. Who doesn’t dream of putting their own artwork on shirts and having prolific names wear them, right? What more if they choose to collaborate with us? A fantasy indeed, my g.

As numerous artists from different industries dive into the retail industry in hopes of meshing their vision with fashion, we’ve seen a handful of trials and errors. Mostly errors, TBH (yes, we’re looking at you, J.Balvin x Jordan 1). But every now and then, we’re treated to artists who develop products that disrupt the market with their innovative approach, eventually sending ripples of creativity into the next generation of brands. And I’m telling you, the “Mind Games” hoodie brought by the triART and Chino Villagracia collab is one of them.

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triART is an end-to-end design, production and retail lab founded by Paulo Jordan and Ken Monares. It’s anything but traditional and it aims to provide artists and creatives with all the tools they need to start their own brand. From design conceptualization to the creation of an online store, triART simplifies the process for every aspiring brand owner, all while bridging the gap between social responsibility and business growth. To top this off, triART’s facility was purposely built in the resettlement area for Typhoon Ondoy victims to help provide jobs and housing to those in need.

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In line with this ethos, triART recently announced a campaign entitled “(co)lab” that allows independent artists to use triART’s facilities to bring their retail visions to life, only in a more sustainable, zero-waste and zero-risk approach. And while the first collection has officially been released, we’re already eyeing one piece in particular: the “Mind Games” hoodie collab with Chino Villagracia. Yes, Chino of the iconic Visual Club team and the director behind JaDine’s “Summer” music video. What a resume, right?

The “Mind Games” hoodie blesses us with a tasteful mix of earth tones warped to form a marble-like aesthetic, creating a design that lives up to its name. Apart from its design, the hoodie boasts a 320 gsm (grams per square) count and an oversized fit to make this piece both cozy and easy to style, even in our tropical climate.

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With the price tag set at P1,850, they surely aren’t playing any mind games when they said that it’s a steal. With this being a prelude to Chino’s upcoming clothing label “Appreciate Y’all,” we’re surely in for a treat when he drops his next collection. But for now, you may peep triART’s collection featuring multiple artists here.

Art by Jan Cardastro