This Filipino Designer's Unconventional Menswear Pieces Will Level Up Your Androgynous Wardrobe

Most people find out the career path meant for them later on in life, but for Bon Hansen, the art field had already held an interest to him at an early age. His family initially encouraged him to pursue a career in architecture due to his talent in drawing, but Bon knew his talents lay elsewhere. “I find comfort in creating and illustrating human figures and costumes or anime. "I can remember that I would be draping blankets on my sister's body and we would play along in our room as if we are supermodels or a character in an anime series.”

If you're into the androgynous aesthetic, check out Bon Hansen's unconventional menswear pieces that you could easily incorporate into your wardrobe.

Bon Hansen’s Unconventional Menswear Pieces

Most would know Bon from his brand “Hansen” which creates unique yet contemporary menswear pieces with an unconventional twist. It wasn’t until he was studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines that his professors and colleagues pointed out his talent in creating menswear pieces. “It was an unexpected discovery of my skills and talent. When I graduated in Fashion, I presented an all menswear collection and from that day on, I was convinced that this was the trajectory I want to take. I enjoyed it”, he shared.

But while his designs may have the traditional qualities attributed to men’s clothing such as its structured forms and loose silhouettes, his women clientele can attest that his pieces are versatile enough to suit any gender. Especially in the age of androgyny, oversized fits and amorphous silhouettes have become more commonplace. In fact, one rule that Bon always goes by is to veer away from clear, defined shapes.“No waist shaping! I dont like the idea of cinching the waist. For me, everything should be away from the body. I want my clothes to be light and easy to wear”, he states.

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When it comes to his thought process, Bon explains that it’s his political way of thinking that inspire his works. "Some of the previous collections I made can be somehow both historical and political,” he says. “It would often start with a narrative, a point of view then I'll reinterpret what I want to convey.” But more than anything, Bon wants to emphasize that his creations are his own and are made out of his understanding of his surroundings. “I don't want to be understood. I dont design for my audience, I design on how I respond to my narrative.”

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Besides handling his own brand, Bon also teaches in his alma mater and leaves a valuable piece of advice to his students which is that being a designer is more than just limiting oneself to creating and putting out their vision, but it’s also about having the right technical skills to execute that vision. 

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