New visionaries

Meet the three grand winners of Bench Design Awards 2025

- By REY ROBES ILAGAN

There's something electric about a fashion design competition— especially when it puts the spotlight on fresh, young creatives redefining Philippine fashion.

This year's Bench Design Awards (BDA), held last April 27 at Bench Tower in Taguig, was no exception. With 12 standout collections from emerging talents, the 2025 edition celebrated imagination, storytelling, and the evolving identity of Philippine fashion. And if there's one thing the night made clear: The future of fashion is in visionary hands.

Leave it to Bench—the homegrown retail giant known for its ongoing commitment to Philippine fashion through platforms like Bench Fashion Week and Ternocon—to continue nurturing the next generation.

With the support of Suyen Corporation, BDA continues to create space for bold, original designs to shine. This year, three designers stood out for their powerful narratives, skilled execution, and unmistakable creative voices: Steph Verano, Peach Garde, and Karl Nadales.

Their reward? A ticket to showcase at Tokyo Fashion Week this September, in partnership with the Japan Fashion Week Organization.

Manila Bulletin Lifestyle caught up with the winners to talk about their winning collections, their inspirations, and the future they're helping shape for Philippine fashion.

STEPH VERANO

With a collection titled "Cast," Steph Verano transported us to a world shaped by sea, salt, and memory.