By Florenda Corpuz
TOKYO – The spotlight turned Filipino at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo (RFWT) as Bench, the country’s pioneering lifestyle brand, unveiled the works of three emerging designers in a showcase that celebrated creativity, heritage, and the Filipino spirit.
On Sept. 2, Shibuya Hikarie Hall A transformed into a stage for “Philippine Fashion Now,” Bench
From the Sea to the Runway
For Iloilo-based Gagula, the ocean was his muse. A former nursing student who now teaches at Iloilo Science and Technology University, he looked back to a carefree coastal escape for his collection, “Sea-scape.”
“The waves, the elements of the sea, especially the movements of a jellyfish,” he said, describing how fluidity and spontaneity shaped his garments. The result was a youthful collection that echoed the freedom of the shore.
Stitching Migration Stories
Nadales brought a personal narrative to the runway. Raised by a seamstress mother, he honed his craft through a scholarship at Fashion Arts Business Creatives. His collection, “A-17,” stitched together the struggles and hopes of migration.
“Inspiration is like the story of a person traveling from one place to another,” he explained. “Each stitch, each cut represents the journey: the hardships, the places they wanted to go, and even the places they didn’t expect to see.”
His use of contrasting fabrics and patterns mirrored the emotional landscape of migrants, uncertain yet full of discovery.
Maritime Memories in Paris and Beyond
Paris-trained Verano turned her gaze toward Europe’s maritime life. Her collection wove together fishing net textures, floaters, and bait-inspired details, bringing utilitarian wear into a contemporary frame.
“There are clothes that look like fishing nets with floaters, and some of the details of the clothing are the baits,” she said.
Hand-quilted surfaces, knotted seams, and muted maritime tones gave her pieces the character of garments weathered by the sea but reborn for modern fashion.
Fashion with a Mission
Bench founder Ben Chan was present in Tokyo, championing Filipino designers on the global stage.
“We can go international if given the platform like Japan Fashion Week,” Chan told Filipino-Japanese Journal. “I hope they can get discovered. That’s the major goal of Bench: to bring in young designers to get international exposure.”
Since 2015, Bench has used Japan Fashion Week as a bridge to introduce 12 Filipino designers to Japanese audiences, from Carl Jan Cruz to Jace Quiambao. The brand’s commitment has made RFWT a launchpad for the Philippines’ new generation of fashion voices.
