Bandid Lasavong’s Rebel Spirit Soars Through Fashion

Traditional foundations

Bandid Lasavong incorporates traditional Laotian textiles, known for their hand-woven patterns and rich symbolic meanings, into contemporary silhouettes that challenge conventional fashion boundaries.

Oversized coats serve as canvases for elaborate traditional motifs, where ancient patterns found in Laotian ceremonial textiles are reimagined through a modern lens. These patterns, historically representing spiritual protection and cultural identity, now dance across unconventional cuts and asymmetrical shapes. The juxtaposition of these time-honored designs against cutting-edge tailoring creates a powerful statement about cultural evolution and preservation.

Modern evolution

In a daring departure from traditional Laotian dress codes, Bandid introduces fishnet elements that add a distinctly punk edge. These revealing layers are thoughtfully balanced with textile elements, creating a tension between exposure and concealment. The color palette draws from both worlds—incorporating the rich, earthy tones typical of local Laotian fabric alongside the stark blacks and metallic accents characteristic of punk fashion.

Through his clothes, Bandid not only challenges the conventional boundaries of fashion but also presents a powerful commentary on cultural identity in an increasingly globalized world. The designs serve as a testament to how traditional craftsmanship can evolve and remain relevant while still honoring its roots.

This story appears in the pages of VMAN SEA 01: now available for purchase!

Photography BJ Pascual

Creative direction Vince Uy

Fashion Ryuji Shiomitsu

Grooming Thazzia Falek

Grooming assistants George Dillinger, Vincci Tardes, and Jhessie Recto 

Hair Patty Cristobal

Nails Luz Fortuno (Triple Luck Brow and Nail Salon)

Retouching Summer Untalan

Models Kensuke Adachi (Mercator), Diego Morissens (Luminary), and Eugene Reggio (Mercator)

Production Jones Palteng

Fashion assistants Aaron de Chavez, Ar Valdez, Patricia Naomi Cruz, and Nichole Anne Pura

On location PioneerX Studios

Dayne Aduna

Associate Editor

Dayne Aduna is an Associate Editor at VMAN Southeast Asia, specializing in fashion, grooming, film, television, and contemporary pop culture. With a strong editorial focus on menswear, his work explores how style intersects with shifting cultural movements across Southeast Asia and beyond.

His expertise spans fashion journalism, celebrity profiling, grooming and skincare trends, fragrance, runway reporting, and cultural commentary, with a particular eye for emerging creatives and youth-driven style.

Dayne has written extensively on fashion houses, seasonal trends, designer collections, and the evolving image of the modern Southeast Asian man, bringing both editorial depth and cultural relevance to his coverage.

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