Not Your Average Uniform: Day 2 of BENCH Fashion Week Holiday 2025

If there’s an attribute that most people would think of when they hear the word “uniform,” it would most likely be “consistently predictable”. Yet Day 2 of the BENCH Fashion Week Holiday 2025 was anything but that when everyday fashion became a canvas for reinvention. From reworks to playful subversions of utilitarian staples, BENCH Workwear, Cotton On, MLB, and HUMAN x ḢA.MÜ were more than prepared to show that ready-to-wear can push against the boundaries of expectation.

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BENCH Workwear

If structure and utility were BENCH Workwear’s backbone, then attitude pushed their collection forward. What could have stayed strictly functional instead became confidently street-smart. Durability found a new direction as clothing meant for labor was reimagined into reliable pieces—tough enough to last and stylish enough to stand out. 

Cotton On

Carrying the carefree energy of Y2K youth culture, Cotton On turned the runway into a schoolyard through their collection. Cool individuality found its way through the styling, yet denim’s ability to adapt was apparent. Their throwback approach did not tip over the edge of costume as each look still remained grounded to the present year.

MLB

As the Korean brand that’s carving out a cult following in the Philippines, MLB brought a sporty energy to the mix. Rooted in baseball but designed for a lifestyle that spans far beyond the stadium, their streetwear collection during the show was versatile enough for anywhere life takes you. 

HUMAN x ḢA.MÜ

ḢA.MÜ, founded by Abraham Guardian and Mamuro Oki in 2017, has always leaned into bold experimentation. With HUMAN, the brand translated that ethos into pieces that were out of the box. Fitting for a playful collection about embracing the newness of change, the “FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE” line was completely unapologetic in its use of asymmetry and unexpected textures.

The idea that a uniform has to be plain is officially outdated. Practical attire for the Filipino worker can be delightful and full of personality. As the BENCH Fashion Week Holiday 2025 comes to a close, take a page from these ready-to-wear brands and remember that what is “average” in your wardrobe can become extraordinary when creativity and craftsmanship collide.

Photos courtesy of BENCH

Anya Oxyn

Senior Fashion Writer

Formerly a stylist who immersed herself intimately within the Philippine fashion circuit for over three years, Anya has refined her transformative, hands-on experience into an insightful voice for MEGA Asia as a Senior Fashion Writer.

Her editorial pursuit possesses three facets: her time as an essayist during her education at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, her extensive experience in digital media and strategic storytelling, and her belief that fashion has a beating heart deeply intertwined with art, culture, society, and humanity itself that is worth uncovering.

Anya’s versatile pen spans a dynamic range of subjects, including emerging local designers, global luxury houses, beauty trends, film and television fashion analysis, cultural op-eds, major events, and beyond.

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