PURVEYR’s annual fair invites the gathering of kindred spirits and creative minds as expression roams its halls. The connections fostered gravitate beyond the mere transaction but evidence the tumultuous growth of the local industry in strengthening bonds and timeless ideas.
Pasig City’s Metrotent Convention Center was overflowing with wonder, captured through its limited releases, activities, and street-savvy environment last September 2-3, 2023, amplifying its cause.
Filipino streetwear’s stomping grounds
Joshua San Mateo and Zaldine Alvaro c/o PURVEYR
A rush of overwhelmness infuses the curious mind, thinking of where to begin. The tens of merchants populate the venue with timeless catalogs championing individual design and advocacy. Rummaging through the racks of staple apparel pieces, furniture, artworks, and jewelry, the fair invites the avid supporter and wanderer of the local street scene, awakening a sense of community that is bound to stay.
Stepping onto the event floor, each tenant provides something incomparable to the next. Whether it's the ability to channel external influences with hints of individuality or curate a vision uniquely theirs, all walks of life vibrantly co-exist and prosper.
Flavors beyond garments
Joshua San Mateo and Zaldine Alvaro c/o PURVEYR
Beyond its streetwear persona, the annual fair provided hints of the rich street culture it embodies. The leftmost side of the entrance recollects the past through Box Camera PH’s vintage-esque pop-up studio, producing portraits seemingly out of family photo books.
Vans occupied the tail-end portion, featuring their downscaled halfpipe, complemented with scheduled workshops to tend to the daredevil within. The skateboarding staple provided customizable screen-printed tote bags—one of the many exclusive souvenirs available at the fair’s third celebration.
Joshua San Mateo and Zaldine Alvaro c/o PURVEYR
If deciding to go for something more permanent, Booth 36 ventures beyond with Tattoo Nebula’s on-skin artistry and piercings. The BF Homes residents slate their influence by utilizing cruelty-free inks and etching personalized and exclusive designs that reap expression from their beholder.
Metrotent Convention Center’s Terrance housed several vendors, each complementing the festivities. Likened by the scenery of Tondo or Maginnhawa, PURVEYR transports the bustling atmosphere through a curated selection of merchants providing unique flavors. Regardless of the pours, the lines evidence their hearty acclaim, grabbing a quick bite before or after a day filled with immersion.
What it means to be creative
Joshua San Mateo and Zaldine Alvaro c/o PURVEYR
“Creativity” is an adjective that uplifts what is tangible—an outlook rather than championing distinct perspectives. From the sights and sounds that distinguished Filipino street culture’s relevance on the main floor, it was within the back room where the magic flourished.
PURVEYR’s conference panels posed as the festivities’ “cherry on top” as a means of not just focusing on what has been but what the future will be able to capitalize on and learn from. Four talk-based sessions populated the two-day afternoons, ushering a sense of togetherness intertwined through diversity.
The informal discussions featured promising and established individuals who’ve exemplified excellence in their spaces, regardless of the medium of expression. Its 2023 rendition explored themes similar to its predecessors, delving into the creative profession, product development, food and beverage, and the music ecosystem.
An open invitation to the intrigued and ambitious creative, the vicinity’s intimate setting simulated something personal yet shared collectively.
