Cover Models pose backstage at the Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
Models pose backstage at the Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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The Bench Design Awards on April 27 captures Filipino ingenuity through the creations of emerging designers
Fashion never truly sleeps in the Philippine capital, and this year is no exception. For Bench and the Suyen Corporation, 2025 has already been a whirlwind. Campaigns, collaborations and creative showcases from the likes of Ternocon to Bench Body of Work are in full swing. But the highlight so far has undoubtedly been the return of the Bench Design Awards (BDA) at Bench Tower on April 27, with yet another new class of emerging designers.
Now in its fourth edition since its debut in 2017, the BDA continues to serve as a launchpad for fresh talent, introducing new Filipino designers to both local and international fashion communities. The event is organised in partnership with the Japan Fashion Week Organisation, and the competition allows three winners to present their collections at Tokyo Fashion Week, exposing them to a global stage.
From nearly a hundred applicants, 12 finalists were chosen this year for their clear creative direction and strong technical craft. Their collections were exhibited in an awe-inspiring showcase at Bench Tower’s basement and demonstrated both a mastery of design and a willingness to explore nontraditional materials, construct original narratives and connect tradition and reinvention.
Related: Inside Bench Fashion Week spring/summer 2025: we recap the hottest looks and highlights
Above A look by Steph Verano from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
Above A look by Peach Garde from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
A look by Steph Verano from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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Stephany Verano, one of the three winners, is no stranger to Manila’s fashion crowd. A familiar name at trunk shows across the metro, Verano’s cerebral approach to craft combines sharp construction with surprising references. Her BDA collection featured quilted outerwear, utilitarian silhouettes and subtle nods to fishermen’s gear like lures, netting and bucket hats reimagined into elevated streetwear. Her label, Stephverano, evolves with a keen understanding of structure and form.
Then, there is Peach Garde, who has quickly become one of the most exciting voices in the current wave of Filipino fashion. Tasteful and subdued, with a limited palette of blues and whites emboldened by Just shy of winning the Pacita Longos Gold Medal at Ternocon 2025, Garde now adds a BDA win to a growing list of accolades. His minimalist pieces reflect a deep respect for construction and national pride, with silhouettes designed for repeated wear. A teacher by day and designer by night, Garde is carving out a name for himself from both ends.
“I’m just so very grateful,” he enthuses, commenting on both his massive wins. “I’ve always wanted to join BDA, and winning both [Ternocon and the Bench Design Awards] in the same year is such an honour."
Karl Nadales, another of this year’s awardees, brought his signature tailoring and intricate surface treatments to the runway. Based in Iloilo and trained under FAB Creatives, Nadales weaves his personal history into cerebral pieces that feel as intellectual as they are emotive.
Above A look by Karl Nadales from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
Above Looks by Sandro Dela Peña from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
A look by Karl Nadales from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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Other finalists made strong impressions. Marc Carcillar breathed new life into the Philippine Terno through his brand MARCOpilipino, while a standout crowd favourite, Andre Plaus, told a story through colourful knitwear based on the concept of a “uniform from a galaxy far away. Alser Lumawag, who simultaneously balances a full-time job at a government bank with his studies, presented a deconstructed, high-concept collection through his brand ALSR.
Renée de Guzman of R/STUDIOS, brought an emotionally layered collection to the runway featuring stray keys, old receipts, and Polaroid prints embedded into garments. Think of the collected items found at the bottom of your purse, but stylised, curated and collaged. Outside of BDA, De Guzman is known for her stylishly sumptuous leather tie bags, De Guzman’s work is deeply poetic. It is as much fashion as it is an autobiography. For her, clothing is a vehicle for memory designed to be felt.
Above Looks by Andre Plaus from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
Above A look by Renée de Guzman from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
Looks by Andre Plaus from Bench Design Awards 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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Sandro Dela Peña, Daryl Tejano, Vin Orias, Gil Salazar and Jorem Biadoma rounded out the list, demonstrating street-style experimentation and sustainable tailoring to original interpretations of minimalism and memory.
It’s clear that these designers aren’t simply chasing trends but reshaping what Filipino fashion can be: personal, sustainable, rooted in story, and ready to take on the world. And with names like Steph Verano, Karl Nadales and Peach Garde at the youth’s helm, it’s apparent that Filipino fashion is building a movement.
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
