In fashion, we feel

March 15, 2024 | 12:00am

Perhaps we are a generation who are more in touch with our feelings — and are unafraid to express ourselves. Fashion is a reflection of the times, they say, and if it’s any indication, the designers at Bench Fashion Week Day 2 conveyed how their emotions and inner selves have directed their craft.

And whether or not it’s a feeling that inspires or one of distress, the results are remarkable: a collection that showcases clever concepts and modern methods of making clothes.

Like a summer party with Human and Cotton On

Cotton On opened day two with a vibrant energy that’s ready for what the summer holds. Safe and Sound by Capital Cities couldn’t have been a better backdrop of a tune to express the reassuring feeling we get at the dawn of summer, the start of a new season, as out came sports-inspired jerseys made for play, rough denims ready for adventure, and cotton dresses over pants for ease of movement.

Live and in the flesh at the Human show was rapper Al James, who sang his hits Pa-Umaga and PSG, as models clad in street art-inspired fashion strutted by him, feeling his beat. They wore loud slogans and bold colors; tees and jeans that looked as if they were spray-painted on; electric-neon accessories, and oversized everything.

On yearning and self-discovery with Nicoló

Titled “Pick Me,” psychology graduate and designer Nicolo Perez takes off from a flower motif and uses it throughout his collection of functional pieces that featured his pitch-perfect mastery of clean construction and precise tailoring. He stays close to his signature style, the Rorschach-like patterns and his fondness for deep and navy blues, while pulling away in all the right places to bring out something new.

Against boxy shapes and roomy silhouettes came a bevy of anthurium, orchid and trillium appliqués zigzag-stitched in well-thought-out placements and panels across the pieces. Layers and textures were made through the translucent, denim and striped fabrics, in new hues of sky blue, grassy greens, sunny yellows, and burnt oranges. The curved cut-outs were ingeniously placed; the back details not to be missed.

From anxiety to art by Carla Zhang

Carla Zhang of mixed media wear brand Le Ngok shares her latest story in “There’s Nothing Wrong,” which is about her battle with anxiety, looking inward, and following her mind. The four-part endeavor begins with a shivering discomfort and unease, and a slow transition to release, a letting go, and finally, a dance towards a lighter, ethereal world among friends.

An artist-cum-designer, Zhang set to work on the things she is known for and good at: avant-garde pieces that shock and surprise; reworking materials from stock; the happy amalgamation of thick knits, crochets, and macramé; psychedelic colors, the mishmash of 3D-printed materials, and more.

From cool puffers to sweeping parkas, to fun-sized tees and blanket-like dresses, Le Ngok presents modern couture that can be worn as full looks, and likewise pieces that can be mixed with what you already own, an instant mood-upper to brighten one’s day, or break the monotony — literally and figuratively.