Ben Chan Archives - PeopleAsia

Best of Bench Fashion Week Spring/Summer ’24

Suyen Corp., the company behind homegrown lifestyle brand Bench, among other foreign and local retail brands, trained the spotlight on both fast fashion and couture, as it also showcased the collections of such designers as Joey Samson, Rhett Eala, Nicolo Perez, Gabbie Sarenas, Jo-Ann Bitagcol and Carla Zhang. By Alex…

From Samson to Mobo, a study in contrast in style and techniques in Paskong TernoCon 2023

The TernoCon, through its latest Christmas edition, has also found a new home, as the featured Filipiniana ensembles are now showcased at SM Aura instead of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The terno and Christmas do mix! And they mix so beautifully, capturing the Filipino’s Christian soul in the…

American baseball-inspired South Korean streetwear brand expands presence in PH

After opening its first store at SM Mall of Asia, MLB, that's Major League Baseball to the uniniated, through its exclusive local representative and distributor Suyen Corp., recently opened its second store in the country at SM Aura. From shirts, jackets, sweaters, pants to bags, caps and sneakers splashed with…

Seeing life through rose-colored glasses starts with wearing the right undies

La Vie en Rose, which literally means “life in pink,” has served as an inspiration for countless creative pursuits, including marketing as seen in the latest Canadian brand – a leading name in women’s underwear, sleepwear and swimwear -- to establish shop and open its second store in Manila. By…

Why Rico Hizon has stuck to this brand of Japanese eyewear

His introduction to JINS, a Japanese brand exclusively carried in the Philippines by Suyen Corp., happened two years ago when Rico and wife Melanie were traveling to Japan. They were soon drawn to its numerous styles and colors that before they stepped out of the store, the couple each ended…

The night Michael Leyva just wants to have fun

For the final evening of the recently concluded three-day Bench Fashion Week, Michael Leyva capped off the designer series with looks that were fun, fearless and unapologetic yet still managed to look chic. And for dessert, Bench again unleashed a bevy of young hardbodies in stylized swimwear for its new…

Jaggy Glarino gets personal in latest collection for Bench Fashion Week

Day One of the biannual fashion week’s latest edition featured three designers, including a young master technician who loves to shock and awe audiences with his out-of-the-box vision. This time though, afraid of appearing “faux and inauthentic,” he purposely reined himself in as he drew from the personal. By Alex…

Yssa Inumerable wins grand prize as TernoCon returns this year

Now on its third edition, Bench’s TernoCon not only provides budding designers with a venue to showcase their skills and talents. It also honors and promotes the country’s national dress by making it more accessible and wearable to today’s generation of Filipino women. Text and photos Alex Y. Vergara Yssa…

Ji Chang-wook: Certainly no backstreet rookie

The Korean oppa and Bench’s latest international endorser blew into town, winning more hearts and minds (and shrieks), as he went on a whirlwind tour to meet with journalists and fans, and visit Bench stores, including having a meal at Bench Café, where he developed a liking for two iconic…

Ternocon 2023: The balintawak reimagined

Ternocon, a fashion competition originated by Bench’s Suyen Corp., resumes early next year after a two-year disruption because of the pandemic. Twelve finalists, who are being mentored this time by Inno Sotto, Dennis Lustico, Chito Vijandre, Ricky Toledo and Joey Samson, will compete for the top prize with their modern…