The WORLD of ARCHIVISTS

Fashion collectors JP Singson, Jones Palteng, and Rabbithole Creatives open the door to their archives and talk about their most prized pieces, secret shops, and tips on how to take care of vintage items

- MARIAN SAN PEDRO

The act of collecting is actually a basic human instinct: a survival advantage and a product of eons of natural selection. In the beauty, rarity, and narrative they bring, things of the past find immortality in secret archives and historic collections-just like the treasured pieces of these vintage collectors.

JP SINGSON

Funnily enough, JP Singson started collecting to cope with heartbreak while he was still in San Francisco. From there, he started experimenting with fashion, where he discovered places and communities that introduced him to his niche as well as to contemporary designers. He was able to build his collection little by little as he traveled around the world to find the best shopping spots, including Paris showrooms, vintage and consignment shops, and even online stores.

"To be honest, I have lost count because my archive is in three places-Paris, Málaga, and Manila," says Singson when asked to quantify his collection. "I also share a lot of my stuff with my mom, Lola Androgynous. Also, my style is still a work in progress, so I constantly update my wardrobe-adding pieces that define my current style and letting go of ones that no longer fit my eclectic aesthetic. I gravitate towards collecting unique pieces because more often than not, their value increases over time."

Singson is a huge fan of Japanese designers, especially Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons, and Issey Miyake, because of their openness to new trends and being able to incorporate it into their traditional clothing. Dries Van Noten, Maison Margiela, and Craig Green are his go-to European labels for ready-to-wear, while he also collects rare Louis Vuitton bags and other limited edition handbags. He also has a massive collection of vintage and contemporary costume jewelry, like Chanel, Christian Lacroix, YSL, and Celine by Phoebe Philo, as well as iconic Marni by Consuelo Castiglione pieces.