474. The Most Talked About Name in Male Fashion: R.M. MANLAPAT, Tailor and Haberdasher

RANDOM SHOTS FOR '69, R.M. Manlapat Ad, 1968

One of the most enduring names in the history of male fashion is R.M. MANLAPAT, the iconic tailor and haberdashery shop now on its 7^th decade of operations. It was established by Rosendo Manlapat Sr. in 1951, and slowly built a reputation for its quality tailoring of formal suits, coats, contemporary jackets and native barong.

R.M. MANLAPAT even ventured into providing costumes and wardrobe for films, like Lo'Waist Gang,  Og sa Mindoro (1958), Hell of Borneo (1964) and Mano po (2002).At its peak, aside from its main office in Sampaloc, R.M. MANLAPAT had branches in Greenhills, Cubao, and at the Manila Hilton by 1975.

Its reputation was cemented when, at the 1974 Miss Universe Pageant held in Manila,  the shop provided officials, VIP guests, judges (Jose Greco, basketball star Jerry West, film actor Dana Andrews, Gen. Carlos P. Romulo) and the celebrity host, Bob Barker.

R.M.MANLAPAT "Thrilla in Manila" Ad, 1975, courtesy of Pinoy Kolletor

The next year brought R.M. MANLAPAT more fame when the Games and Amusement Board for the Ali-Frazier fight, dubbed as the “Thrilla in Manila”, was appointed exclusive tailor and haberdasher. The shop designed and supplied the exquisitely-embroidered  barong tagalog worn by boxers Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Ken Norton.

Today, R.M. MANLAPAT operates a shop in Timog and in Pasig, continuing a tradition of fine tailoring in men’s fashion that has become its signature legacy to generations of Filipinos.

 SOURCES: R. M. Manlapat “Thrilla in Manila” ad, courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor, used with permission.