Bench Fashion Week is bigger than ever

Now in its third year, Bench Fashion Week is bigger than ever. For spring/summer 2019, Bench brought out the big guns with a highly anticipated three-day style celebration featuring the best of the local and global fashion scene.

Day 1 kicked off with brilliant couturier-on-the-rise Seph Bagasao and equally promising Bench Design Awards 2018 winners Renz Reyes and Ched Dalogaog with their ultra sophisticated designs which were received with tons of applause, palanggas, from the screaming crowd.

Ben Chan and Rafe Totengco with Bench endorsers.

For casualwear, global brand Cotton On’s ’90s-inspired collection and Suyen Corp.’s very own alternative clothing brand Human’s indie pop flavor gave the crowd high energy shows that highlighted summer-ready pieces. Closing the first day, dahlings, was the official launch with the fabulous Bench’s second collaboration with New York-based Filipino designer brilliant southern boy Rafe Totengco, whose collection, inspired by a trip to Siargao Island, brought the house down. Wow! The pieces were worn by Bench mega top endorsers.

Des Verdadero-Abesamis, Patty Betita, Suyene Chi, Eric Maningat, Tweetie De Leon-Gonzalez and Marina Benipayo.

Day 2 show started off with Bench’s own luxury multi-brand concept Assembly. Making fantastic appearances on the runway were name-droppable brands. The segment of the show belonged to eye-catching Kashieca designs. For the second day’s finale, Mark Bumgarner’s ready-to-wear label, Bumgarner Studios, made its debut. With his own line of shoes, bags and jewelry complementing every feminine piece he created, Bumgarner truly took the BFW runway and made it his own, dahlings.

Seph Bagasao creations.

Bench came out with this fabulous unbeatable three-day Fashion Week and the final day. First up was JC Buendia, who delivered strong blacks and whites and surprised the crowd with bright yellows. It was followed by American Eagle with showcases of fun, fresh, and ready-for-more adventures. Closing BFW was Bench’s back-to-back extravaganza: Bench Active which featured several Bench hot movie star endorsers and ended with the reveal of Brazilian artistic gymnast and Olympic medalist Arthur Nory. The last segment, Bench Swim, was the ultimate summer spectacle with Bench top endorsers rocking the brand’s hottest swimwear pieces. For the ultimate finale, swimmer and two-time Olympic gold medalist Conor Dwyer made his way down the BFW runway, with supermodel girlfriend Kelsey Merritt gushing in the front row.

Adore Botanicals redefines self-love

Adore Botanicals ambassadors Hindy Weber-Tantoco, Bianca Araneta and Nikki Torres with Adore Botanical CEO Yuval Mann.

US brand Adore Botanicals arrived on our shores and hopes to change the perception of self-love from just being fit and fashionable, to utilizing the very products you apply on yourself, as well. Launched at Shangri-La Plaza recently, Adore Botanicals introduced its ambassadors: biodynamic farmer and entrepreneur Hindy Weber Tantoco, restaurateur and healthy-living advocate Bianca Araneta Elizalde and holistic wellness and lifestyle coach Nikki Torres, dahlings.

Joining the launch was Yuval Mann, CEO of LGI, the company that brought in the breakthrough brand, which lets you harness the power of plant stem cells to indulge and improve your skin.

Chanel Abelo, Helga Krapf, Rachel Bustamante and Meanne Flores.

“The fountain of youth may be a myth,” said Yuval Mann, CEO of Adore, “but the key to fighting anti-aging and promoting youthful smoothness and luminosity is not. By harnessing the right properties from plant stem cells, we are able to offer products that help you stop the clock and enjoy the best skin you’ve ever had which not only revitalizes but also promotes adoring yourself because you deserve only the best.” Applause! Applause! Applause!

Adore Botanicals ambassador Hindy Weber-Tantoco said: “At 45 years old, my secret to looking effortlessly youthful is to invest in my mind, body and spirit; and to add to that, you’re never too young to start caring for yourself.” And I say amen to that, Hindy, dahlings. Bianca Araneta, on the other hand, said, “The first step you need to adore yourself is to stop comparing yourself with others and instead focus on your self-care.”

Beautiful women Chanel Abelo, Helga Krapf, Rachel Bustamante and Meanne Flores came to the Philippine launch of Adore Botanicals at Shangri-La to celebrate feeling good and looking good.

Check it out, palanggas. You won’t regret it.