Cover Chito Vijandre's Suite 1 from his 'Dawn of a New Age' Collection from Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
Chito Vijandre's Suite 1 from his 'Dawn of a New Age' Collection from Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
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Chito Vijandre’s ‘The Dawn of a New Age’ collection, as seen on Bench Fashion Week
This year’s edition of Bench Fashion Week Holiday brings us a wide array of innovative apparel from the likes of Miss Universe 2022 R’bonney Gabriel, URBAN REVIVO, Anthony Ramirez, and Kashieca among many others. We witnessed models effortlessly strut across the runway as they showcased the potential future of style with bold yet familiar outfits. One designer, however, stepped it up to the next level to bring us the aptly named ‘Dawn of a New Age’ which was inspired by the spirit of the Sixties and Seventies. This is Chito Vijandre’s latest collection.
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Suite 1: Retro Futurism
Above Chito Vijandre's Retro Futurism Suite for Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
Chito Vijandre's Retro Futurism Suite for Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
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“Imagining space warriors with armour, I looked towards the Middle Ages and formidable women like Joan of Arc as well as Japanese Samurai,” says Vijandre. When designing this collection, he wanted to channel a rebellious spirit by revisiting the way designers of old used man-made materials like plastics and synthetic fibres for their clothes while also incorporating Space Age fashion from his favourite science fiction film, Star Trek. Clad in chain mail pinafores of paillettes and gold metal discs worn over minis and pantsuits in silk jersey, these outfits are meant to be a blend of history and the distant future. “I love this fabric because it hugs the figure, especially when cut on the bias to give a certain sensuality and femininity to an otherwise hard-edged look,” shares Vijandre.
Suite 2: Age of Aquarius
Above Chito Vijandre's Age of Aquarius Suite for Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
Chito Vijandre's Age of Aquarius Suite for Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
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“This collection takes off from the liberation of the 1970s when hippies reigned, and feminists were front and centre,” Vijandre shares. Channelling the spirit of Bohemia, he uses luxurious fabrics to blend cultures to portray spiritualism. For instance, silk chiffons are seen alongside Tibetan brocades and Mughal paisleys—emphasising people’s reaction towards pop and capitalism, which was to turn to the spiritualism of the East’s rich culture.
Suite 3: Disco Glam
Above Chito Vijandre's Disco Glam Suite for Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
Chito Vijandre's Disco Glam Suite for Bench Fashion Week Holiday 2024
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“Disco Glam celebrates the newfound freedom and exuberance of the late Seventies era of Studio 54,” says Vijandre. Using vibrant Fauvist colours for silk chiffon dresses and organza tops, the third suite spells ‘fun and abandon’, according to him. With freedom of movement in mind, the dresses are ruched and overlaid with beaded crochet on one set, referencing traditional Renaissance court attire, while the other set is matched with trapeze skirts in Varanasi silk brocade to recall the Ballet Russes folkloric traditions. Following the disco theme, the models playfully swaggered down the runway with disco balloons with distinct retro music in the background—garnering much-deserved applause.
The creative process
An outfit from Chito Vijandre's Retro Furutism Suite
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An arduous effort, designing the collection took a couple of months, according to Vijandre. From researching and sketching to travelling for inspiration and experimentation, the entire process was crucial to get the feel just right—while still incorporating his signature style of vibrancy. “During our travels, we encountered many sources of inspiration from museum exhibits and performances. Sometimes, the discovery of fabrics and materials inspired new designs or variations to the sketches,” Vijandre says.
While the collection at its core took inspiration from the past, Vijandre also attributes this collection to the culmination of the modernisation of fashion—starting with Poiret and Chanel, who gave women a sense of freedom in the early 1900s. “How Mary Quant and Courrèges made the mini a staple in the 1960s and how Halston liberated and gave women a glamorous, sexy edge in the 1970s with jersey dresses and pantsuits,” he shares. To differentiate his collection from one-off costumes or vintage pieces, Vijandre made sure not to take things too literally. The bell-bottom jeans and hot pants popularised in the Seventies were transformed into silk paisleys and silk velvet. “I wanted this to be a fun collection, one that brings joy,” he adds.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
