Ben chan biography owner of bench
Home / Celebrity Biographies / Ben chan biography owner of bench
From that first SM kiosk to dressing international celebrities, Bench’s story mirrors the Filipino dream – ambitious, resilient, and proudly homegrown. His commitment to nurturing homegrown creativity remains steadfast, with initiatives like the Bench Design Awards serving as a launchpad for new voices in fashion.
Always forward-looking, Chan continues to innovate across the lifestyle space.
What was meant to be a bold and edgy showcase turned into controversy.
Actor Coco Martin was pulling a woman on a leash. That wasn’t just marketing – it was a movement. “When people stop spending, you need to give them reasons to start again,” he told me in a rare interview. How can I make customers feel seen, not just sold to?
This paved the way for the development of Bench Laboratory and an entire expansion into personal care products.
Credits
Photography: Patrick Diokno
From Humble Beginnings to Fashion Empire: The Story of Ben Chan, Owner of Bench
Did you know that 90% of Filipinos own at least one item from Bench?
For example, their best-selling jeans use a special finishing technique that mimics premium brands at half the cost. Then, he decided to design furniture and even opened a furniture store called Dimensione.
His entrepreneurial spirit came from his parents, who founded Liwayway Marketing Corporation, a Filipino company best known for Oishi snacks.
Chan’s design instincts and global experiences became the foundation for Bench.
Their latest venture? His first capital came from family loans (₱500,000 in 1987 – about ₱8M today).
Their flagship store in Megamall, with its eye-catching LED display and wellness-themed design, won Store Design of the Year (Large) at the 2023 Retail Asia Awards.
At the time, Filipino fashion was mostly formal and conservative.
They set themselves apart by using advanced materials. The result? Beyond business, he is preparing to publish a yet-to-be-titled book celebrating Philippine culture for a global readership—a testament to his lifelong advocacy of design with a national soul.
“E-commerce provides an equal platform of opportunity for the industry, whether for a small home-based enterprise or an international brand.
Inspired to start? This eliminates middleman markups. Try this exercise: For one week, note down every time you hear someone say “I wish there were…” in your industry. I still remember my first Bench shirt – a simple black crew neck that made me feel like part of something bigger. Their playbook reveals fascinating shifts: 1) Hyper-localized collections (Barong-inspired athleisure), 2) AR fitting rooms in flagship stores, and 3) Sustainability initiatives (recycled polyester lines).