Cover ‘Threads of Dreams’ exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
‘Threads of Dreams’ exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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Discover ‘Threads of Dreams’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, where fashion celebrates 70 years of Philippines–Japan cultural ties through the work of leading Filipino designers
Fashion often tells stories long before anyone wears it. At Threads of Dreams: 70 Years of Philippines–Japan Relations through Fashion, now on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila until July 26, 2026, clothing becomes a record of cultural exchange, craftsmanship and shared history. Presented by Bench in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and The Japan Foundation Manila, the exhibition marks seven decades of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
More than 60 garments by Filipino designers Jaggy Glarino, Rhett Eala and Joey Samson explore how clothing can carry memories across borders and generations. Though distinct in approach, their works converge on themes of identity, migration and heritage.
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Above Ben Suzuki, Tina Colayco, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, Ben Chan (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
Ben Suzuki, Tina Colayco, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, Ben Chan (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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Above Kimono by Rhett Eala (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
Kimono by Rhett Eala (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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Glarino draws on the migration histories and craft traditions of Mindanao, translating regional narratives into contemporary silhouettes. Eala reflects on inheritance and the subtle emotional weight of personal objects, while Samson—whose work has been exhibited from Tokyo to Paris—explores the dialogue between Filipino and Japanese aesthetics through his signature precision tailoring.
See also: Home, held close: Jewelmer honours 30 years of the Philippines’ national gem
Joey Samson, Jojie Lloren, Josie Natori, Randy Ortiz, Gino Gonzales (Photo: courtesy of Bench)
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The exhibition also extends beyond the gallery through public programmes featuring Japanese textile practitioners, offering demonstrations of traditional dyeing and handicraft techniques that continue to influence contemporary design.
Rather than treating fashion as something fleeting, Threads of Dreams presents clothing as a repository of memory. The garments on view preserve histories, trace journeys and highlight the enduring cultural ties linking the Philippines and Japan for seven decades.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
