By Roy Mabasa
Three young Filipino designers who recently won in the 2019 Bench Design Awards shared their vision of genuinely global Filipino fashion when they showcased their collections in one of the world’s topnotch fashion stages, the Rakuten Fashion Week in Tokyo, Japan.
Designs from the collections of Bon Hansen Reyes (left), Jace Quiambao (center) and Antonina Amoncio (right). (Tokyo PE photo via DFA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Fashion designers Jace Quiambao, Antonina Amoncio and Bon Hansen Reyes titillated the international audience at the “Asian Fashion Meets Tokyo” segment of this year’s global fashion festival held last October 15 in Tokyo with their Philippine-inspired collections.
Quiambao’s collection, “A Lepidopterist's Summer”, took inspiration from butterflies and incorporates traditional Filipino costumes into a modern style.
Antonina Amoncio’s collection called “Gunita” was inspired by children’s books and fairy tales with hand-embroidered fabrics that highlight Filipino culture and values.
On the other hand, Reyes’ collection, “Inuod”, depicts pre-colonial menswear, which aims to disrupt gender norms.
They were accompanied by no other than Ben Chan of the renowned local brand Bench, who also presented his own “baro’t saya” collection with a twist of “young, hip, and modern aesthetics.”
The three young designers were the winners of the 2019 Bench Design Awards held on September 1, 2019 in Manila.
Chan’s famous company launched the Bench Design Awards in 2017 to put the spotlight on undiscovered talents in the local fashion industry in line with its vision of putting the Philippine fashion on the map.
Hailed as one of the much sought-after fashion weeks in the world, the Tokyo Fashion Week is comparable to those held in Paris, Milan, London, and New York.
This year, Tokyo Fashion Week has partnered with Rakuten to further “promote Japan’s fashion scene globally, empower the fashion industry and provide attendees with an even more exciting experience.”
Rakuten is one of Japan’s leading internet companies with huge interests in the online shopping mall, financial technology, digital content, and communications.