Bench founder and retail visionary Ben Chan gives Sarenas the bouquet at curtain call.
My sister, Gabbie Sarenas, was part of the Bench Fashion Week last March 8, held at The Playground of the Bench Tower. She, with La Vie en Rose, Kashieca by Rhett Eala, and Jo Ann Bitagcol presented on the first day of Bench Fashion Week. My ate loves to shock people with details in her collections, but this one was different. It surprised even me.
Months before the show, Ate was already planning her next collection. She was very busy, so we rarely saw her. When we did see her, it was for family matters, or for her to see Vladimir, my Biewer Yorkshire Terrier whom Ate loves like her own. I got a glimpse of the making of this collection when I slept over in her home. They were in the middle of planning how some pieces would look. What I recall the most is that they wanted it better than her past works and shows.
On the day of the show, I wasn’t really expecting anything. But when I first saw her works on the runway, I wondered, “Why is it simple?” I mean yeah, simple is great, but I didn’t expect it. I was overthinking it—“Well, Ate’s style is simpler now. More minimalist.” But then I saw her “bride” come out with Ate’s signature flower apron and bandana, I was like, “Woah! There she is!” It wasn’t the only one, as after that, other models paraded her signature designs. I knew then that I liked this collection more than last year’s. Ate Gabbie has created such a body of work that she can just get from these different pieces and create something new. I was amazed how each design throbbed with its own life, gliding from one look to another on the runway.
Her collection was called Tanan because she was inspired by her clients, and how people just wanted to have a simple or civil wedding. The pieces in her collection are really what you can wear over your tanan clothes, or clothes you put on at the last minute. The first part consisted of simple garments. Then she incorporated pieces—these add-ons completing an integrated look. These different pieces put together came to define what a wedding dress should look like.
The audience noticed the fabrics—dyed silk linen, piña shifu, Japanese organza, US organza, bridal tulle, European gauze, and cotton voile. These fabrics stuck to a monochromatic ecru.
The show was evidently well planned, with each design unfolding seamlessly on the runway. There was drama and I liked it. Halfway through, I forgot to look into each detail because I thought of the show as a whole, planned down to the last detail to give audiences an experience. What I really loved was the finale when the models walked as a group, a moving phalanx. The gossamer fabrics made them seem floating in the air, like the models were on clouds, at the same time looking like an army of brides and grooms.
The unexpected portion was the last model who glided in, zigzagging around the columns. My Papa even said he got distracted by how she walked. It was modeling stalwart Joyce Oreña. She hasn’t walked the runway for years, but recently, she has accepted projects. After the show, she shared some of her experiences as a model. She really prepared for the show and studied her part.
Another thing the production team worked on excitedly was the music. The song reminded me of the old teleseryes I used to watch. It was romantic. Kulang na lang lumabas si Jericho Rosales, or Richard Gomez. It reminded me of Pangako Sa ’yo. But the end song, Fantasy by Mariah Carey, was very Ate. It was playful and probably the best song to define her—for now.
I recall her telling me that what really is fashionable to her is people wearing what they’re comfortable in
People posted about how the show reminded them of their grandmothers and the era long gone. As a young person, how do I relate this to my modern life? I thought it looked like something we would wear at home—not in a bad way! The clothes we wear at home are the best ones we have in that they show our most unrestrained selves and our deepest personalities. My family loves comfort and looking presko (fresh). In this collection, the clothes looked breezy and free. I recall her telling me that what really is fashionable to her is when people wear what they’re comfortable in.
I also noticed how, through the years, she has developed a following. Usually, at curtain call, it’s the practice of my Mama to give flowers to Ate. This year a lot other people gave her flowers. I also noted that she had a lot of creative friends who took amazing photos of her and the show. I recall how when she began doing fashion shows, her SoFa friends would cheer for her. Now, people from different backgrounds were admiring her work.
But what made this show different for me was, I was amazed to see these pieces up close. Ate lives elsewhere, so we don’t have our usual morning discussions anymore, but she occasionally video-calls. It was our first time not to see her prepare every day for a show. Usually she would come home and you would see her working. It’s amazing now because I didn’t see most of the things she was doing. But I now see, she has become more comfortable doing what she loves doing. She is more relaxed with herself. She is herself. She is able to show who she is, and show people what she can do.
Gabbie Sarenas with Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago and Luis Carlo San Juan of TheDiarist.ph
Gabbie Sarenas (2nd from right) with, from left, the author Mica Sarenas, Thelma Sioson of TheDiarist.ph, and fashion-forward designer Hindy Weber Tantoco
Gabbie Sarenas with her parents Dr. Liza and Dr. Marte Sarenas, and Hindy Weber Tantoco
