SELF MADE by Gianfranco Villegas

SELF MADE IS A PROJECT BORN FROM GIANFRANCO VILLEGAS, A YOUNG FILIPINO-ITALIAN DESIGNER. THE NAME OF THE BRAND ORIGINATES FROM THE DESIGNER’S TURBULENT CHILDHOOD GROWING UP IN FLORENCE, ITALY, AS THE SON OF AN IMMIGRANT FILIPINO MOTHER WHO DIDN’T ENJOY A PRIVILEGED UPBRINGING. HE BEGAN TO WORK TO SATISFY HIS HUGE PASSION FOR FASHION AT AGE 14, EVENTUALLY GRADUATING IN 2013 FROM THE POLIMODA FASHION SCHOOL, IN FLORENCE.



EVERY PIECE IN THE COLLECTION IS HAND-CRAFTED IN ITALY WITH PREMIUM MATERIALS AND FEATURES TAILORED FINISHINGS. THE OVERALL CONCEPT IS MIXING ITALIAN LUXURY CULTURE WITH FILIPINO AMERICAN STREETWEAR AND HIPHOP CULTURE. THE SELF MADE SIGNATURE OF HAND EMBROIDERED 3D GRAPHICS IS APPLIED IN SILK THREAD USING A TECHNIQUE UNIQUE TO THE BRAND.



SELF MADE SNEAKERS ARE MADE IN COLLABORATION WITH LEONARDO AMAOLO IN “LE MARCHE”, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ITALIAN SHOE VALLEY.



THE BRAND IS DISTRIBUTED BY RICCARDO GRASSI SHOWROOM TO SELECTED MULTI-BRAND STORES WORLDWIDE: AMERICA, ASIA AND EUROPE. THE BRAND HAS PRESENTED ITS LATEST COLLECTIONS DURING MEN’S PARIS FASHION WEEK.



SELF MADE HAS BEEN FEATURED IN ESTABLISHED PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS VOGUE JAPAN, NUMERÒ JAPAN, VOGUE ITALIA, WWD, L' OFFICIEL , I-D MAGAZINE, GINZA AND MANY OTHERS.

IN JUNE THE BRAND HAS BEEN SELECTED AS FINALIST WITH A SPECIAL MENTION FOR THE NINTH EDITION OF WHO’S ON NEXT? UOMO, A SCOUTING PROJECT OF EMERGING TALENTS ORGANIZED BY PITTI IMMAGINE, ALTAROMA AND L’UOMO VOGUE.

THE BRAND HAS ALREADY GOTTEN THE ATTENTION OF STARS SUCH AS THE WEEKND, ASAP ROCKY, RIHANNA, CHRIS BROWN, PUFF DADDY, GHALI AND OTHERS.