Strongvillage Has a Solid Foundation in Sustainability

How Strongvillage is at the forefront of sustainable streetwear

Streetwear and sustainability have become quite popular as of late—as individual and combined concepts—but designer Russell Villafuerte has been at the forefront of both since 2009. 

“Back then, streetwear wasn’t represented in the scene. There wasn’t a separate category for it in fashion week. It only meant just graphic tees at the time, but now, streetwear is much more than that. It encompasses a whole lifestyle and vibe,” he recalls.

While the Project Runway Philippines alum has been advocating for and working on ethical fashion for more than a decade and a half now, it was only in 2018 that he cemented that advocacy through his brand, Strongvillage. 

The years prior were formative and exploratory at best: Russell did avant-garde designs, wedding garments, couture, and leatherwear, among others. He also put his interior design degree into practice, earning his license to pursue creative projects within the field. 

But the call of sustainable fashion never left—in fact, it only grew louder. When Russell answered the call by establishing Strongvillage, he never looked back. 

Russell sums up streetwear in these five words: “Mood. Vibe. Attitude. Music. Lifestyle.” And each piece at Strongvillage carries a semblance of these signifiers. Inspired by global streetwear culture, he breathes new life into deadstock fabrics, reworking them into jackets, pants, coats, and more, made vibrant and alive by patchwork, prints, and unconventional cutouts. 

It has only gone up for Russell since 2018. It must have been serendipitous that at a time when local and global fashion savants turned their attention toward sustainable fashion and practices, Russell had already been well-versed at it. 

And just recently, the brand has begun joining international trade fairs, opening new avenues for its growth. 

“The most recent one [we joined] is Centerstage in Hong Kong, and it’s been an eye-opening and validating experience for us. It proved that there is a market internationally for what we do in Strongvillage. We’re planning to explore and expand and try to reach other markets. That’s what’s next for us.”

Chief of Editorial Content Patrick Ty

Photography Joseph Bermudez

Art direction Mike Miguel

Fashion Corven Uy

Grooming and hair Jean Anganangan, Crish Marfil, Patricia Marcaida, and Dhanver Serrano (Nix Institute of Beauty)

Model Nubi Osman

Production design Studio Tatin

Production Francis Vicente

Lighting direction Rojan Maguyon