Bench Design Awards 2019: Local Fashion and World-Class Talent on Full Display

The runway was set once again for one of the biggest design competitions in the country, the Bench Design Awards (BDA). Nine up-and-coming designers showcased their creations for a chance to land a coveted spot at the Amazon Fashion Week in Tokyo, Japan!

Closing the biannual Bench Fashion Week, BDA is an initiative by the local retail brand Bench in the hopes of finding the future of Philippine fashion.

The next big thing

Staying true to its mission, Bench has always been at the forefront of the fashion scene in the country—championing local design and craftsmanship above all.

Now on its third year, BDA provided a platform for budding Filipino designers that showed a lot of promise for the fashion industry. From eye-catching pops of color to gender neutral pieces, the select nine filled the catwalk with an array of first-rate designs and proved that they are creative forces to be reckoned with.

To help in the selection process, this year’s jury was comprised of fashion designer’s Mihara Yasuhiro and Willy Chavvaria, Japan Fashion Week’s organization director Kaori Imajo, Tokyo Fashion Week’s Philippine consultant Tetta Matera, and Japanese fashion show director Shige Kaneko. 

The global runway

In the end, three standout finalists emerged as the winners: Jace Quiambao, Antonina Amoncio, and Bon Hansen Reyes.

Inspired by Russian author Vladimir Nabokov’s butterfly illustrations, Jace Quiambao presented his sartorial take on a lepidopterist’s summer with his vibrant collection.

From her 8-year-old sister’s drawings to her hand-embroidered fabrics, Antonina Amoncio’s collection was a playful mix of silhouettes.

Bon Hansen Reyes collection entitled “Pagkahari”, particularly inspired by the pre-colonial Spanish era, is all about breaking gender stereotypes. 

Just like the previous winners, these three will carry the Philippine flag and launch their world-class collections with Bench at this year’s Amazon Fashion Week.

Lead photos from @benchtm