Kylie Verzosa's goal to empower body positivity among women has expanded to include men.
On August 13, 2024, her shapewear brand SOLA launched the Mercury collection, a men's line that is redefining modern masculinity, breaking down stereotypes, and encouraging men to embrace their bodies with confidence.
For Kylie, modern masculinity "means that you don't have to be boxed into one type of stereotype. You can be who you wanna be, dress the way you wanna be."
This message is at the heart of the Mercury collection, which is designed specifically for the modern male consumer and caters to a more Asian body type.
She proudly shares, "We are breaking stereotypes that not only women can wear shapewear, but also men."
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KYLIE'S COLLECTION AIMS TO COMBAT STIGMA AROUND MEN'S BODY IMAGE
Kylie believes that launching a men’s shapewear collection is just the beginning of a broader movement to challenge and redefine body image standards for men.
"I think it's a start, it's a step known more for women, but with SOLA, we're kinda pushing boundaries and pushing limits in what's possible. And hopefully, that kinda is the start in having men's shapewear," she tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
"I think it's a whole lifestyle thing and this one just kinda complements you and if you have a good body, it kinda shows it. But this one will kinda also help cinch in the right places."
Recognizing that some men may feel hesitant about wearing shapewear, Kylie emphasizes the importance of relaying the facts and knowledge first.
"It kinda needs a bit more educating on the men's side, so we are coming up with more men-centric campaigns and trying to just educate them on what can happen," she says.
"Aside from the slimming effect, what can it do? What can you wear it for? How to wear it? How is it gonna affect you?"
Understanding the concerns of men who might be self-conscious about their bodies, the Miss International 2016 titleholder points out that the shapewear is so dynamic that it can be worn discreetly under something else.
She reveals, "We've been getting a lot of feedback because for men, they want to wear it under a shirt or barong because they're scared of their beer belly or their stomach. So, it kinda sucks it in in the right places."
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HEALTH BENEFITS BEYOND AESTHETIC APPEAL
Beyond its capacity to improve one's shape line, the Mercury collection also boasts of other health benefits.
According to Kylie, "One of the benefits of this shapewear would be compression."
She explains: "Compression is so good to wear after workout. I love wearing it when I travel just because it increases the blood circulation.
"And it is good for men after workout because it relaxes the muscle after."
Another notable benefit is posture control, which Kylie notes is valuable for both men and women.
"It helps with posture control, so for the men and for the women, it kinda makes you aware of your posture," she says.
"So, those are the few benefits—posture control, body movement, post workout, and makes you look and feel real good."
In coming up with it, her team decided to stick to 76% nylon and 24% elastine: "We had to really focus on the best compression part so we decided torso area for the men.
"We also have the boxer shorts to make it more flattering in the right places."
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KYLIE TEASES MORE COLLABS AND COLLECTIONS
As SOLA sets the pace for expansion, Kylie is already looking ahead to the future.
The Mercury collection, which takes its name from the closest planet to the sun, represents just the beginning of this journey.
Kylie reiterates that the name "SOLA" symbolizes both independence and the sun, with the Mercury collection marking the start of a series inspired by celestial bodies.
The current lineup includes five different colors in womenswear, nipple tapes, and a new menswear collection, although Kylie hints that more collections themed around other planets are on the horizon.
When it comes to collaborations, she can't contain her excitement as she exclaims, "I would love to!
"Our last collaboration and I'm so excited about it, L'Oréal Paris collaborated with us, and we had this really amazing collection and launch, so I am excited for the future.
"More [brands] have been reaching out to us and I do wanna see what is in store for SOLA."
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