How to be a fine gentleman
The Fine Gentlemen: Juan Banal (standing) is in charge of operations, Patrick Garcia (seated on the left) handles events and sales, and Gab Banal heads marketing. They are seated on a custom couch by Iron & Grain as the shop's interiors showcase their interior design arm, rounding up its features as a one-stop shop.
MANILA, Philippines - It appears Dad and his generation of gentlemen indeed knew best. The Fine Gentlemen in Valle Verde 1 is proof of this old school cool, which is only part of its charm. “We wanted it to be like the neighborhood barbershops in the States where guys would hang out while getting a haircut, have a conversation, just have a community feel,” says Juan Banal, one third of The Fine Gentlemen together with his brother Gab Banal and good friend and actor Patrick Garcia.
Banal admits to not having a fashion background — “I will go to school for it; I read a lot,” he says — but these guys already have the best cred: they look great.
Apart from being a barbershop — they are experts at working with curly hair and sparse beards — the haberdashery arm gets its high level of craftsmanship from seasoned tailors honed in Banal’s mother-in-law’s garment manufacturing company which mass-produces uniforms and corporate attire. A bespoke suit tailor takes 18 working days to make. They can also make polo shirts, trousers and neckties as well as alterations. Banal’s recommended essential? “A basic suit in wool. We take out the layering, which adds to heat and compression. It has to be black. It attracts heat but it’s something versatile.”
Accessories are 90 percent Filipino online shops, also startups with good products, which distinguishes their advocacy in partnerships.
Unique to the shop is its interior design arm, the store itself with customized furniture by Iron & Grain being the showcase of what can be done, from transforming a garage into a man cave or outfitting a bachelor’s pad in line with one’s budget.
They also offer styling services in collaboration with celebrity stylist Reggie Cruz (whose clientele includes James Reid), a necessity dictated by client needs, ranging from fresh grads entering the workforce to young professionals who got promoted and want to look the part, to even YouTube influencers and athletes who want to market themselves differently. Banal says, “Initial consultation, depending on the range of services that need work, is free, even if it’s not from The Fine Gentleman.”
YSTYLE: The return of the dapper man: what do you think brought it about?
JUAN BANAL: Women empowerment. Women have evened out the playing field in the industry and the alpha male now realizes it’s time to step up again. Part of that is building up their confidence, looking good, the way you carry yourself, and gaining respect. If you don’t dress up, people’s initial reaction to you won’t be the same. It’s not about being conceited. My personal goal is to get every guy in a suit not just for weddings, but for everyday (use). When I just put on a coat, it changes the way people talk to me and the level of conversation.
Why did you think of making your lifestyle concept community-based?
It deviated from my personal need. On social media, looking dapper is sensationalized because people get to see you more and it’s the non-models who post more photos of themselves looking good. I get ideas, I try it on, then people go, like, “That doesn’t look good.” I got frustrated and decided I needed help.
Men don’t go to a mall to shop. They go in and out. We wanted this to be a one-stop shop that really helps guys in different aspects. Yes, we are a barbershop that offers haircuts, shaves and massages. For guys who don’t have a taste for fashion and aesthetics, here’s where they can find it. Valle Verde 1 has 1,500 residents within a half-kilometer radius; then there are the different Valle Verdes and condominiums. Our closest lifestyle barbershop competitor is in Ortigas, which caters to office people. Here, it’s all about the conversation where guys can be just guys, and we want to look good whatever it takes. Here, we can also get our nails done and dye bald patches in beards to make it look full. It’s awkward to do those services in a salon.
A lot of pro-ballers go to you. How different are their demands?
On the contrary, it’s the players who come to us to look more dapper: to shift from being sporty to gentlemanly. It’s rare to see fashionable guys in that industry. They’ve accepted streetwear with all the hype of hip-hop, but then you see these basketball players in the NBA who look good when they’re dressed up. They come in saying, “I want to reinvent myself. I want a subtle but formal look.” With all the contracts, players are now very fluid in terms of being in the industry moving into celebrity status, modeling. They want to be versatile.
What’s unique about your barbershop services?
I started out jumping from one barbershop to the next, finding a barber who could get my hair right in a specific way. I’m very detail-oriented. I can see if hindi pantay. For African-Americans, the Fil-Ams with curly hair, we trained our guys to make it look sleek with the right cut. Our barbers know how to do line-ups for a cleaner look. It was only the Fil-Ams who used to do it because that’s how it’s done in the States. Before, it was frowned upon here.
How would you compare your personal style to your partners?
I’m the bearded one who likes dressing up more. If an event requires formal attire, I prefer that because it’s easier to match with my style. All my suits are tailor-made. Gab is more eccentric in terms of his hair and mixing up streetwear. Ironically, the celebrity Patrick is the more laidback, boy-next-door type. But when we put a suit on him, he really makes it look good! He’s the face of The Fine Gentleman. We have all improved since The Fine Gentleman. We try to live by example.
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The Fine Gentleman is at Community Center, Suha Street, Valle Verde 1, Pasig. Follow them on @the_finegentleman for updates and Father’s Day promos.
