Despite having over a decade's worth of experience under their belt, Team Rain x Em's Rain Dagala and Em Millan remain razor-sharp and on their toes when they dress SB19.
In an exclusive interview with Preview, Rain and Em reveal that not only has working with P-pop royalty been an exercise in fashion and creativity, but it has also been a massive opportunity for professional growth. "We have been learning so many new things that even decades worth of experience haven’t taught us yet," Team Rain x Em's head stylists share.
According to Rain and Em, the precision behind SB19—from the boys, the management, and the other teams behind the scenes—is unlike anything they have worked with in the past. "[With] their schedules, coordinations, protocols, interactions, they all work like a well-oiled machine where nothing is left to chance," they reveal. "They have such a high degree of attention to detail that we’re called to be at our best every single time we work together."
Despite what some might assume, styling isn't just simply handing Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin their outfits for the day and making them look good collectively. "To them, our role as stylists do not just end in providing clothes but they understand how we play a vital role in image building, and that we are their partners," Rain and Em explain. "As stylists, our aim at every job is to convey a message. And we’re trying to convey a consistent message to solidify the branding of SB19 as a group, as a fashion force, and of each member as well."
It's not all hardwork and no play, though. "Not to say that the group and their teams are workhorses," the duo points out. "While everyone brings their A-game to work, everyone also treats each other like family. Everyone cares for each other and looks out for each other."
Scroll on to read the full exclusive interview below!
PREVIEW EXCLUSIVE: Rain Dagala and Em Millan of Team RainxEm on Being SB19's Stylists
Describe the first time you met SB19.
"We first got to work with Stell for an endorsement shoot for a streaming platform. It was quite a short timeline, but we were able to get his 'fit and overall look quite well. I guess we were able to deliver, and we got booked for the Popstival gig for the entire group last November. That’s when we met all of the members."
How did you end up working together?
"We got a call from their road manager Leah Gonzales. The group was looking for a stylist to work with for their projects and upcoming tour. Apparently there was a list of stylists they considered, those with portfolios that match the look they were envisioning for themselves. We got booked for that first project with Stell, and the rest, as they say, is history."
How long have you been working together since?
"Fairly recent, we started working together last October 2022. There’s still much to learn but it’s been a fun ride."
How would you describe SB19 as clients?
"We would describe the group members as very hands-on clients. They know what they want and what they don’t want, and are very collaborative. Now that they are starting to express their personal styles even in group appearances, it’s fun to see how they discuss their looks individually."
"We have also worked with BSE and 1Z Entertainment (SB19’s management), and we would describe them as professionals and solid team players. The entertainment industry has so many gray areas and perhaps some are just built on shallow relationships. But it was so refreshing to work with high-level professionalism, which almost brought us back to our corporate days. We had proper briefings and objectives, post-mortem reports and analytics, and we feel very valued."
How has working with SB19 impacted your career as stylists?
"Needless to say, the group’s relevance [is a] halo in our career. But more than that, we have been learning so many new things that even decades worth of experience haven’t taught us yet. The P-Pop industry is continuously growing and evolving, and we’re just as excited to see it unfold with no less than the front-runners."
"We brainstorm, organize our thoughts, create and approve sketches, do fittings, and revise together to create a strong output no matter what the lead times are."
"All looks are collaborative efforts of everyone involved, and of course we need the buy-in of the members. We noted that our process-oriented and collaborative approach works best for all of us. Together with their management, they are very much hands-on with their fashion, and we appreciate that a lot. No one goes on stage without looking and feeling their best. [They] give the audience what they deserve—[it's] their best performance every single time, too."
As their stylist, what can you say about their personal style/aesthetic?
"Everyone is still so unique in terms of their personal style. Maybe that’s why they work so well as a group—no one is a clone of the other. Justin wants his look polished and cohesive; Stell's preference for well-fitting and dynamic stage 'fits always makes him tick; swag and the principles of street creed is the name of the game for Josh; Pablo's penchant for proportion, length play, and shape became a signature; and Ken's strong knowledge of fashion always result in extraordinary and experimental styles that no one dares to conquer."
"Everyone brings something fresh to the table, whether it’s in the style department or elsewhere. As with every job, looks should be appropriate [and] relevant to the event, the location, the performance, etc."
Has your personal relationship developed since you first met? How would you describe SB19 as your friends?
"It has definitely blossomed. Working closely with the group on a regular basis gave us an opportunity to know each other better in a manner that isn;t forced, not just style-wise. Our pasts and our futures are slowly getting clearer with each casual kwentuhan, which also allows us to work better when we know each other’s latent emotions."
"This blossoming friendship allows us to actually do better with each job as we are able to find that sweet spot of working together as professionals and put more heart into our output. They are highly respectful to us as older ates and kuyas, and they’re also like fun kids. Their sense of humor matches ours, and they are always seeking advice and opinions at work or even with personal endeavors."
What’s your most unforgettable moment working with SB19?
"Almost every job that we do with the boys comes with a fun memory. Our team climbed 200+ steps, dipped our hands in a scuba diving pool, and held our breaths altogether during a pyro explosion for a fashion film. Those were all for the books, to be honest!"
"But just recently, they dropped by our house unexpectedly and stayed until the wee hours of the morning. After an afternoon meeting nearby, they said they wanted to visit and have dinner together—it was so unforgettable as it was so unplanned. The setting also allowed each other to be unfiltered and relaxed. There was no discussion about work, but just a continuous flow of raw emotions. We were laughing the whole time."
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