A Miraculous Connection Starting from Instagram — A Special Encounter with the Founder of BENCH/

BENCH/, a super popular and affordable apparel brand in the Philippines with a vast selection, has captured hearts both domestically and internationally. With over 650 stores worldwide, including locations in the US, China, and the Middle East, it’s a global sensation.

We’ve been loyal fans of BENCH/ during every trip to the Philippines, and today, we’d like to share a special story about this beloved brand.

A few months ago, while scrolling through Instagram Reels, the official account of BENCH’s founder, Mr. Ben Chan, popped up on my screen. Intrigued, I thought, “Wow, this is the founder of the brand we always shop at in the Philippines!” I casually clicked on his profile, only to discover something unbelievable—he was already following our Instagram account! (What a surprise!)

Thrilled and amazed, we mustered up the courage to send Mr. Ben a direct message. To our delight, he replied right away! What’s more, we were invited to visit BENCH’s headquarters, Bench Tower, in Manila. Although Mr. Ben himself was on a business trip to Thailand at the time, the PR and Communications Head, Ms. Karen, and Mr. Ben’s family warmly welcomed us and showed incredible hospitality. We are deeply grateful for their kindness.

We traveled from Cebu to Manila and back in a single day! It was a fulfilling day where we got to rediscover BENCH’s charm and learn more about the brand’s philosophy firsthand. We are excited to deepen our connection with BENCH in the future and will, of course, continue to love and wear their wonderful products:)