You’d think that Ben Chan would find it a challenge top his last Bench denim and underwear show, "Bench Blackout," but last Friday’s spectacle dished out “Wows” so effortlessly that it’s hard to imagine the retail mogul running out of steam any time soon.
The Cast
This year’s title “UNCUT,” sprang from the idea that this show would be unedited—“no holds barred on what would be revealed,” to quote from Ben. To achieve this, he tapped a whole team of industry professionals. He brought in Johnny Manahan and Robby Carmona (who directed Bench Fever in 2006) to work on the show proper; Roselle Monteverde of Regal Films to produce the (always sold out) DVD that will be available in Bench stores; and set designer Gino Gonzales (who has designed many a grand stage for CCP productions) to create the themed props and background elements for each of the show’s four segments.
About 100 male models, 50 female models, and 70 dancers were booked for the show, not including the 70 or so celebrities who also walked the ramp. On recommendation from Johnny Manahan, twelve professional dancers from L.A., who dubbed themselves Sushi Slam during their stay, were also flown in (they’ve danced with Britney Spears and most recently for Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” video). All these plus the makeup team, stylists, dressers, and designers made for a beehive of a backstage.
The stage itself was massive, large video screens and two pedestals with hydraulic lifts flanking the main entrance. Ben reveals that 400 seats were lost to the set-up and since tickets to the show are actually the most important part of it all, he removed two satellite stages to free up 110 more seats.
The highlight for the fashion crowd, however, were the accoutrements designed by the four Dubai-based designers—Michael Cinco, Furne One, Ezra Santos, and Val Taguba—Cary Santiago, and Joey Samson. (who was once based in Dubai). Opulent crystals dripping from collars, clothes and even the underwear; extravagant headdresses and ornately carved platforms made things larger than life; and intricate robes, sleeves and skirts were designed to be worn over the brand’s slew of underwear and denims.
The Show
In an earlier interview, Ben Chan revealed that the show was meant to be a vision of where the brand would be by the year 2020. Each of the show’s four segments is themed with a country where Bench is located or aims to be in the future—Philippines, China, Brazil, and Russia.
The Philippines was first on stage, iconic details that spanned from Pintados tattoos, the horses and roosters that adorn jeepneys, to the ornate carved metal work of Mindanao. Cary Santiago worked his laser-cutting magic to create gilded medallion dresses that looked like armored tunics, with fan-like headpieces to match.
James Reyes of the Young Designers Guild did an interesting take on the terno. He fashioned handmade paper from Tagaytay into conical skirts, salakots, and terno sleeves worn with pink or black padded bras and boy-leg panties.
Joey Samson, who regularly designs for the Bench fashion shows, made neoprene vests, jackets, and tunics in blocked colors and boxy shapes. One little vest was worn by a very ripped Diether Ocampo with a pair of very distressed white Bench denims. Another turquoise and fluoro pink jacket was worn by Coco Martin over jeans. Needless to say, both men elicited shrieks from the crowd.
Next stop on the map was China where Bench has already planted itself in the retail scene. Furne One had a dual inspiration for his creations: the armor of Mongolian warriors of the past and modern China’s architectural wonder, the Bird’s Nest stadium of the Beijing Olympics.
It seemed like he bent stainless steel into caged shoulder armor and robes that jutted upwards into pointed horns. It was a cool and forceful foil to the underwear’s soft chintz prints and tidy whites. Karylle was first to appear among the roster of celebrities, showing off a trim bod in corseted armor and a skirt of laser-cut feathers over a pale pink print set. Iya Villania’s dark locks, lips, and eyes offset her crystallized bustier dress and steel armor. Kim Chiu made the grandest entrance, the crystals on her mini dress were pewter as knight’s armor and the horned train of her gown looked both regal and foreboding.
Val Taguba must have had a field day designing for the next country stop, Brazil. Plucking ideas from the birds of the Amazon, the colors were brilliant and feathers plentiful. Katrina Halili came on scene with a train, dense with ruffles, attached to her waist and a bolero of crystals and fethers on her shoulders. Especially stunning was the brassiere and panty she modeled, whose swirls of green and yellow were colored entirely with crystals. Pokwang was another sight to see, strips of the lightest blue, yellow, and mint fabric bursting like flames from her gown.
Meanwhile, the girls of Sushi Slam were dancing to Brazilian beats wearing soft green dance skirts speckled with crystals by Jerome Salaya Ang with the essential Bench Body black bras. Jerome also created the draped, leather-like skirts and strap-on boots for the two babes who were wore nothing but crystals on top.
The minimalist of the group, Ezra Santos, described his collection for the African segment in one word, "GOLD." Gilded neckpieces spanned from the chin to décolleté, calling to mind tribal rings used to elongate a woman’s neck. Maggie Wilson was dripping in black crystal, which cascaded over the yellow tribal print underwear set she had on, looking like a sultry Persian princess. The dress on Melai Cantiveros, of Pinoy Big Brother fame, seemed to take an Egyptan turn with ropes of gold beads interspersed with red and blue crystals on her dress. As for the men, Bench denims were first dipped in gold, paint that is, before also being studded with crystals.
Last on the tour was Russia, or as Michael Cinco calls his collection, “Impalpable Russia,” rolling the “R” for emphasis. Georgina Wilson, who’s new to the Bench Body roster, opened the show walking down from her Fabergé-esque throne looking every bit a queen with a crystal tiara and collar. Another homage to royalty was Shaina Magdayao’s red crystal bustier with it’s filigree pattern and a crystal collar that would have made the Romanov’s eyes light up. He made a similar tiered train worn by a model over a crystallized bra, panty and stocking set that was quite the show-stopper.
The jewels of Russian Tzarinas seemed to be a recurring theme in the wardrobe Michael created—jeweled bibs, collars, and intricate headpieces adorning both women and men. He did take the military route for menswear, saying that he sees Russia becoming a powerful force in the future. Cavallier jackets were adorned with crystal medals, crosses, and epaulets like war honors. One exception to the military rule was Jake Cuenca who first hid beneath a magnanimous blue brocade cape with a fur collar, Michael’s nod to the Tzar’s royal robes, no doubt.
Accompanying this was another set by Joey Samson who echoed the soldier theme navy jackets pelted with gold buttons and epaulets; plaid waistcoats worn over the brand’s denims; and frogged bibs for the militia of models to wear over briefs.
Jerome Salaya Ang once again dressed the Sushi Slam team for their “Russian Samba” routine, with hand-painted tights. Vina Morales, who closed the show with a second song number, also wore a white, sprayed dress by the designer.
So was the sixth Bench denim and underwear show a success? The visual spectacle was at a record high and the shock value more than pleased the crowd in the sold-out arena. Ben Chan will be hard-pressed to top this one.
