PALOMA ZOBEL, JEROME LORICO, RHETT EALA AND PAOLO ROLDAN HEADLINE BENCH FASHION WEEK
Ben Chan launches the first-ever Bench Design Awards where young Filipino designers get a chance to join Bench at Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo
Three designers whose works spell excitement and relevance in the Philippine fashion industry— Paloma Urquijo Zobel, Jerome Lorico and Rhett Eala— share the stage for the holiday round of the biannual Bench Fashion Week from Sept. 7-10 at the The Playground of Bench Tower in Bonifacio Global City.
Paloma Urquijo Zobel presents her Piopio line which she
introduced last year, using locally woven fabrics while working closely with Filipino weavers. A graduate of Imperial College and Parsons, she combines her global training with a nationalist fashion vision .
Jerome Lorico famously interned with Alexander McQueen and took a bow at London Fashion Week in 2013. The 2010 winner of the Swatch-Philippine STAR design competition, this edgy designer will present tough, tailored streetwear inspired by North African culture.
Rhett Eala spent much of his younger years in Hong Kong and took art and fashion courses in Florence and New York. In Manila, he is undoubtedly a trendsetter whose RTW designs are constant bestsellers, and whose couture gowns are favored by the best-dressed set. He will present delicately crafted womenswear.
Local retail favorites Bench, Human and Kashieca will present their latest lines. Bench Body collaborates with Filipino-Canadian supermodel and returning brand ambassador Paolo Roldan.
Bench’s global partner brands American Eagle Outfitters, Cotton On and Vero Moda will show their new collections.
Ben Chan, founder of Bench which is the leading clothing and lifestyle brand spearheading the “Love Local” campaign, elevates Philippine fashion to global platforms by presenting the firstever Bench Design Awards on Sept. 10. Ten young designers will present their own collections for a chance to join Bench at the Asian Fashion Meets Tokyo show of Japan’s most popular fashion festival, Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo (AFWT) on Oct . 20.
The Bench Design Awards is an initiative that aims to put the spotlight on undiscovered local talent. An open call was served to designers nationwide, after which 10 finalists were selected, after a rigorous screening process. The finalists are Bea Samson, Esme Palaganas, Banggo Niu, Wilson Limon Jr., Jenni Contreras, Diorelle Sy, Ched Dalogaog, Yves Camingue, RJ Santos, and Jaggy Glarino. With the help of organizers from AFWT, three designers will be chosen as winners at the Sept. 10 showcase and will fly to Japan in October to present alongside Bench at the Asian Fashion Meets Tokyo S/S 2018 show.
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