More and more events have been staging their comeback after more than two years of lockdowns and one of those is Bench Fashion Week! The highly-anticipated event is best known for highlighting homegrown talent by featuring the collections of up and coming designers
This year, a combination of local designers as well as international fashion retailers took to the runway, presenting show-stopping looks throughout the three-day event. Keep scrolling below to see a closer look into the designers that featured their collections in Bench Fashion Week 2022.
LOOK: All the Designers That Showed on the Runway of Bench Fashion Week 2022
1. Human X Jenni Contreras
Jenni Contreras conceptualized a collection for Human that was plucked straight out of an '80s sportswear catalogue. Athleisure pieces in bright, inviting tones paraded down the catwalk, befitting anyone who dresses with a childlike glee.
2. Cotton On
Pumping up the jam on the runway was Jana Silao's collaboration with Australian label Cotton On. Familiar pieces like schoolgirl skirts, tank tops, and flannel shirts got a nostalgic remix, making anyone who dons them look like a character from a classic flick from the '90s.
3. Antonina
Rising from the shadows at this year's show was Antonina Amoncio's "Anino" collection. Oversized silhouettes, quilted details, and peek-a-boos of skin were all prominent elements in the designer's all-black ensembles.
4. Strongvillage
Russell Villafuerte's STRONGVILLAGE exhibition revolved around amped-up denim and pattern-mixing, all rendered with a distinct, street-style flair. No labels of gender were outwardly present on the runway, with each ensemble signaling a definitive move towards more androgynous and inclusive everyday wear.
5. Urban Revivo
Urban Revivo’s collection was an amalgamation of different aesthetics, starting off with bright colors, puffy sleeves, and breezy forms that remind one of summer. The looks slowly transitioned into a light academe-wear with pleated skirts, boxy tops, and a unique use of denim. Eyewear was also a staple all throughout the show. As the final aesthetic, we see the style shift to something more retro with abstract prints and bold hues akin to the '70s.
6. Kashieca x Lucy Torres-Gomez
If there’s one way to describe Kashieca x Lucy Torres-Gomez’s show, it’s that their pieces will unequivocally become your new wardrobe essentials that can easily go from workwear to leisure. What with the collections flowy silhouettes and subtle injection of texture in all neutral shades, the pieces make for the perfect elevated closet staples.
7. Martin Bautista
When first looking at Martin Bautista’s resort wear-inspired collection on the runway at Bench Fashion Week, hubadera instantly comes to mind. Most of his pieces featured mid-riff and décolletage- baring cuts that lent a risqué touch to his creations. The vibrant hues and mix of fringe, silk, beadwork, and the like offered an almost other-worldly aura to his looks while staying grounded on earth with his addition of cargo pants and platform heels reminiscent of the sartorial zeitgeist of the early 2000s.
8. Bench x Mobo
For international designer Lesley Mobo's latest collaboration with Bench, the Aklan-born designer returns to his rural roots and pays homage to life in the countryside. Entitled Masaganang Bukid, his collection takes inspiration from our rich cultural and agricultural heritage. Opening with a colorful baro’t saya number, a marching band soon follows, foreshadowing the festive mood of his line. More than a romanticization, it was a celebration of the every day. Models trotted in bright ensembles that were accessorized with familiar native relics such as a bilao, a straw hat, an abaniko, and the likes. From elaborate baro’t sayas in a plethora of colors, to casual wardrobe staples elevated with an unexpected design detail, and to the larger than life higantes that were both whimsical and eye-catching, everything was vibrant, inviting, and distinctly Filipino. It offered a slice of life that was refreshing, sweet, and comforting—much like fresh harvest.
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