Retail visionary Ben Chan and Nenita Lim of BENCH with Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Madame Endo Akiko at the opening cocktails (Contributed photo)
In his opening remarks, Ben Chan lauds the transition ‘from runway to the museum,’ which, he says, ‘ allows us to pause and appreciate the craftmanship, memories and cross-cultural histories woven into every piece.’ (Contributed photo)
A milestone exhibit, Threads of Dreams: 70 Years of Philippines–Japan Relations through Fashion, opened June 2 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. To run until July 26, 2026, it brings together fashion, craft, and cultural memory in a major exhibition commemorating seven decades of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan.
Produced by the global Filipino lifestyle brand BENCH, it is in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and The Japan Foundation Manila. The exhibition presents over 60 garments by Filipino designers Jaggy Glarino, Rhett Eala, and Joey Samson.
Weaving contemporary fashion, textile traditions, and personal narratives, the exhibition examines how the Philippines and Japan have shaped each other’s national life through craftsmanship, migration, design, and cultural exchange.
Presenting garments as carriers of memory and identity, Threads of Dreams mines the enduring connections between the two countries through three distinct creative perspectives.
Jaggy Glarino collection
Glarino draws from migration histories and regional narratives in Mindanao, translating themes of movement, ancestry, and cultural layering into contemporary silhouettes informed by local craft traditions. His work reflects a growing global interest in Southeast Asian fashion, following his participation as speaker at the Business of Fashion forum discussing the international relevance of regional design narratives.
Rhett Eala collection
Eala reflects on inheritance and lived experience through a body of work representing over three decades of modern Filipino design. Known for refined construction and understated elegance, his pieces explore the emotional resonance of objects, memory, and personal history.
Joey Samson collection
Known as the “garment surgeon,” Samson presents sharply tailored works that imagine intersections between Filipino and Japanese aesthetics. His work has been presented in Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Tokyo, and Singapore—an international presence grounded in craftsmanship, discipline, and contemporary Asian design perspectives.
Complementing the exhibition is a series of public programs on June 28 featuring Japanese textile practitioners Rika Yoshinari, Kenji Ishiki, Madame Toko Chiba, and Shizuka Ohkawa. The sessions will highlight traditional Japanese dyeing techniques and contemporary handcraft practices, alongside Designer Talks featuring conversations on the works and creative processes of the exhibiting designers.
Running until July 26, 2026, Threads of Dreams positions fashion as a cultural bridge—revealing how clothing can preserve stories, reflect shared histories, and foster dialogue across borders and generations.
The exhibition is open to the public during museum hours at standard museum admission rates.
Ben Chan tours Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya around the exhibit.
Fashion icon Josie Natori and Ben Chan
Katutubo founder Mons Romulo, Nenita Lim and Ben Chan
Consul Agnes Huibonhua, Ben Chan and Tina Cuevas
Ben Chan with Joey Samson, Rhett Eala
Architect Miguel Pastor and Tourism Undersecretary Capt. Stanley Ng
Leading advocate of the terno and author Gino Gonzales (far right) with designers, from left, Joey Samson, Jojie Lloren, Josie Natori, Randy Ortiz
CCP president Kaye Tinga (third from right) with, from left, Ben Chan, Joey Samson, Jojie Lloren, Josie Natori, Randy Ortiz, Eric Cruz and Gino Gonzales
Opening the exhibit are, from left, Ben Suzuki of Japan Foundation, Metropolitan Museum head Tina Colayco, Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Ben Chan.
The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) is at the MK Tan Centre, 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila.
Tuesdays to Fridays | 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturdays and Sundays | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
BENCH/ is the leading fashion and lifestyle brand in the Philippines. Through initiatives such as Ternocon in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the publication of Fashionable Filipinas, and international presentations including Tokyo Fashion Week, BENCH/ continues to champion Philippine fashion and cultural heritage worldwide.
