All the looks and highlights from Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2025

The spotlight then shifted to the works of two of the country’s most exciting young designers. Koko Gonzales presented Collection 01, a line deeply inspired by his personal daily life. The collection featured versatile and functional pieces with subtle Filipiniana influences, reflecting a modern Filipino identity that is both globally aware and rooted in heritage. 

Read also: Benchmarked: exploring the return of Bench’s most iconic fashion show

“This collection comes from looking at the rhythm of daily life—how I move through the city, from short bike rides to quick errands, and how clothes need to adapt with ease. It’s an exercise in turning those routines into something bigger, inserting Filipiniana details in a way that feels fun. The inspiration is also and maybe about seeing how tradition and movement can exist side by side,” says Gonzales, who has been creating bridal and formalwear since 2015.

For Gonzales, joining the Bench Fashion Week is a big step for his eponymous label because it introduces his work to a wider audience. “Normally, our process feels small and personal, but this platform allows us to share our language with more people. It’s also important because it pushes us as a team to learn—discover and most importantly to play with our creativity.”

Read also: Ternocon 2025 breathes life into tradition in a stunning ode to the Filipino masters

Neric Beltran, known for his extravagant and avant-garde creations, surprised the audience with The Other Side. This collection offered a more subdued and accessible take on his signature style, focusing on pieces that retained his flair for drama and intricate detailing and hand-sewn embellishments. The Other Side is a seamless blend of artistry and wearability, highlighting pieces that are beautiful, relevant and impeccably made.

“It’s an exploration of a lot of things. I would say it’s an extension of me dabbling in other disciplines of art. I actually have a reference, which is a painting that I did. It mainly springs from there. It's a side of me as an artist, as a creative, as a designer that not everyone knows about,” Beltran says.

The talented designer joins the Bench Fashion Week for the first time. “What people can expect from this collection is the handicraft. I am always a believer and a promoter of handiwork. Nothing beats something created by the human hand. No machine can replicate that artistry,” Beltran says, sharing that his skills and knowledge in embroidery was honed when he studied embroidery in Milan, where he acquired different techniques, which he applies to his works. 

Day two continued the sartorial excitement with collections from beloved brands. Cotton On delivered its signature laid-back and effortlessly cool aesthetic, while MLB brought a sporty and athletic vibe to the runway. The show concluded with a presentation from Bench Workwear, offering stylish and durable options for the modern workforce.

The highlight of the second day, however, was the showcase of three more promising Filipino designers. Daryl Maat presented a collection that was both sleek and minimalist, characterised by clean lines and impeccable tailoring. 

“This collection is a personal and cultural love letter to the Filipino school birthday party, a moment many children cherish, but one I never experienced. Transforming that unfulfilled wish into a joyful, tactile runway story, the collection reimagines the classic classroom celebration through a designer’s lens: pabitin games, banderitas, frosted cakes with playful toppers and candy-filled loot bags become the foundation for silhouettes, textures and surface treatments. It is both a nostalgic celebration and a fresh reinterpretation of Filipino textile traditions,” says Maat. “By reimagining nostalgic Filipino experiences with contemporary design and artisanal textiles, we want to show that fashion can be both deeply personal and universally relatable.”

Bree Esplanada transported the audience to a dreamlike realm with Phantasmagoria, a collection that was both theatrical and ethereal, reflecting his background as a fashion illustrator. 

“Phantasmagoria is a sequence of real or imaginary images like those seen in a dream. I am incorporating my dark whimsical art illustration to my collection showing different techniques from fabric printing, embroidery and appliques. I wanted to show that even the unusual and the macabre can be visually attractive,” Esplanada says.

The Cebu-based designer showcased a 15-piece collection at the show.

Abraham Guardian, also known as Ha.Mu, creates a stunning collection for Human. He describes, “This collection reimagines how we see a HA.MU kid heading off to college—ready for a wardrobe shift as they step into adulthood. It’s a playful collision of our two brands, blending our distinct styles into youthful, everyday pieces made for anyone seeking a fun pick-me-up. These garments are designed to be companions for new beginnings, offering both comfort and character as they embark on their next chapter,” he says.

Finally, 2017 Bench Design Awards winner Jaggy Glarino closed the show with his signature bold and experimental designs, pushing the boundaries of Philippine fashion. “My collection is titled Igno–a word once said in dismissal: ignorante (ignorant), hindi taga-rito (not a local), wala pang alam (naive and clueless). This time, we reclaim it,” says Glarino.

Igno is inspired by his journey as someone who came from the province and set foot in a city. “The pieces are messy, layered and oversized,” he says. He used improvised materials such as weathered denim, tarpaulin and coated canvas. “Igno is for those who arrive [in the city] with nothing but guts and a bus ticket. It’s not about arrival; it is about movement, friction, hunger. It’s about holding on unlearning and refusing to disappear.”

Beyond the stunning collections, Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2025 served as a crucial platform for the discovery and promotion of local talent. By providing a stage for these designers to showcase their work alongside established brands, Bench continues to play a pivotal role in the growth and development of the Philippine fashion industry.

The event was a vibrant and energetic affair, drawing in a crowd of fashion enthusiasts, industry insiders, and celebrities, all eager to witness the future of Filipino style. Spotted on the front row were glitteratis like Sarah Lahbati, Marina Summers, Chelsey Manalo, Catriona Gray, Enchong Dee, Tessa Prieto, Vice Ganda and Michelle Marquez Dee. Korean actor Bang Sung-hoon also graced the event.

With its successful Holiday 2025 presentation, Bench Fashion Week has once again proven itself to be a cornerstone of the Philippine fashion calendar, championing creativity, innovation and the immense talent of Filipino designers.

NOW READ

Japanese designer Mihara Yasuhiro reinvents sneakers with art and purpose

Fritz Hansen presents the acclaimed Poul Kjærholm collection

‘Home is where the heart is’: Kai Lim gives entertaining tips