Neric Beltran
The backstage at BENCH’s Holiday 2025 presentation unfolded with an unexpected hush, a soft overture to the festive season. The usual clamor I’ve come to expect dissolved into quietness, a striking counterpoint to the last BENCH show I covered in March. Looking back on a year of bold creativity for the brand and its designers, I thought it was the perfect, stylish conclusion.
As I stepped into the twilight-lit space, I caught sight of my friend Luisa, as two stylists adjusted the fall of her trousers. She wore a Neric Beltran ensemble like a whisper of winter light: a sculpted white blazer over lace pants so delicate they seemed to disappear against her porcelain skin.
Neric Beltran
Moments before the runway call, I found Neric himself, exhaling the last of his nerves before he sent his models on to the runway. We reintroduced ourselves, for our first meeting had been only weeks earlier at an event. He spoke to me of merging his artistry with the opportunity to showcase his first with BENCH—pieces that remain beautiful, relevant, and eminently wearable. “The Other Side” lived up to its name: sequins and beadings, his signature shimmer glinting like starlight, yet the silhouettes felt distilled, almost architectural, their solid color blocking a quiet study in form. It’s a sophisticated new chapter for his house, still rooted in the handcrafted DNA that defines him while inviting a wider audience in.
Neric Beltran
Beats later, as Neric’s collection played across the runway screens, I found the perfect moment to introduce myself to Koko Gonzales. He stood, eyes fixed on the backstage monitor, absorbing every frame. His “Collection 01” unfolded with casual bravado: sweeping hats, sport-inflected shapes, and bicycles that instantly reminded me of carefree childhood summers—a nod to the rhythm of his daily rides through the city. He shared with me the puzzle that shaped his debut: How can we manipulate mass-produced fabric? That question became the pulse of the line. BENCH, he said, gave him the artistic freedom to experiment and to create clothes he himself would live in—effortless, athletic, and playfully eye-catching.
Koko Gonzales
Together, their visions created a dialogue in motion: Neric’s confident evolution beside Koko’s intimate, lived-in debut. It’s a scene I look back on now as 2025 draws to a close: In the rare stillness backstage, before the lights rose and the crowd surged, it felt as though I was catching the quiet heartbeat of Philippine fashion as it strode into the holidays—and later, into the new directions of 2026.
