GMA Integrated News
Michael Cinco has had it with Filipino influencers and celebrities asking for free outfits.
On Instagram Stories, the Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer went on a rant about the “discrepancy in the promotion of international and Filipino designers.”
“I have nothing against dressing up fashion influencers and celebrities for free,” he began, acknowledging the “crucial role” these influencers play in promoting and marketing businesses like his.
“My issue is — why [do] Filipino influencers and celebrities seem more than happy to flaunt international brands yet hesitate to promote our very own Filipino designers?” Cinco asked.
While he knows people tend to gravitate toward “international brands that have built a certain level of prestige over the years,” Cinco remains befuddled with their lack of enthusiasm when it comes to promoting Filipino designers, often from whom they got their ensembles for free.
He points out the difference in how Filipino influencers and celebrities promote and credit foreign brands and how they promote and credit local brands.
“They will proudly flaunt and promote the [international] brand in capital letters and tag the brand 100 times, write all the available hashtags in IG as if the brand will notice,” Cinco said.
“But when Filipino celebrities and influencers wearing Filipino designers, they will promote your brand in whisper, as if they are embarrassed wearing Pinoy-made gown,” he continued.
As if speaking from experience, Cinco added, “If you tag these famous celebrities and influencers in your posts or stories wearing your dress, these people won’t even acknowledge your post or repost your stories and won’t even comment to say THANK YOU in your page.”
“Then you will realize they don’t even follow you in IG or any social media,” he said laughing.
“Why is there a discrepancy in the promotion of international and Filipino designers” Cinco asked,
He points to the colonial mindset of seeing international brands as better than local, which “has led to a lack of support for local designers and their brands, despite undeniable talent and unique designs.”
In one of his posts, Cinco shared an anecdote about a stylist of a Filipino celebrity asking if the designer could custom-make a gown for free.
While he said he agreed, the fashion designer asked that his medical bills and health insurance be covered by the celebrity.
“Because I will have sleepless nights creating your gown and will suffer from panic attacks,” he said.
The stylist stopped messaging him, Cinco shared.
He ended his series of post with a piece of advice for stylists and celebrities.
“Before you approach designers for loan or custom-made clothes for free, inom ka muna ng kape para kabahan ka naman,” Cinco said.
“Mahiya ka naman,” he added in all-caps.
Cinco has dressed many international celebrities including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Miss Universe queens R’Bonney Gabriel and Andrea Meza.
Previously, he called out 2021 Miss Universe Canada and team for being “ungrateful.”
— LA, GMA Integrated News
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