For Renz Reyes, Design Is Muscle Memory

From the outside looking in, Renz's work is divided between two aesthetics: wispy organza that flows in the wind, and clear-cut denim that forms sharp edges. For anyone who passed by Comme Çi during his pop-up, the row on the right was dedicated to denim, while the parallel one was reserved for organza.

With a background in embroidery, Renz wanted to utilize his skills in forming his signature shapes. "I didn't want to lose this side of myself, so I [pushed for] the rigid silhouettes [as well as the] softer ones," he tells Preview.

In principle, his patterns are completely the same, but the textiles change how the final output looks. For the untrained eye, a bustier top crafted from denim would appear completely different from one made out of organza. Renz clarifies that the two are essentially the same thing. "It's just a trick of the eye," the designer says.

Renz began his exploration into these styles for his Bench Fashion Week collection last 2023. It was the brand's first time to venture into such designs, and the reception was more than favorable. Soon after, he branched out to varying fabrications, textures, and even colors. He made a return to the Bench runway during the 2025 TernoCon: Palaro, where he exhibited his liberal takes on heritage wear. Notably, it was also his first time to create pieces in a red and orange shades.

With his brand gaining immense recall factor, he shifts towards pieces that can easily assimilate into the lifestyles of potential clientele. At first, like any young designer, he only wanted to create "interesting clothes" that spoke to him, but his experience in retail shifted his perspective.

"Some pieces might work for a show but most people don't wear these kinds of clothes," he says. While there's no certainly need to sacrifice artistic sensibilities, Renz ackowledges how his pieces should be able to move with whoever wears it. "It's not about making it more commercial," he states matter-of-factly, "but it's about making it work for more people."

By getting to know the individuals who wear his pieces, Renz obtains a better grasp of how to approach his design flow. An integral component is being intentional with how he creates, which entails knowing how to craft the pieces himself.

"Designers should know how to construct clothes or [make] patterns... I can't imagine designing without knowing [how to construct] clothes. I feel like it'll limit what I can achieve," he expresses. "I don't know how I could design."

With the amount of experience he's had, it's become a "therapeutic experience" for Renz to make patterns. At this point, there are certain pieces that he's practically memorized how to stitch together—and that comes from the fact that he's gotten to know the textiles and study the patterns from scratch.

Renz's expertise has taken him to greater heights as of late. In particular, he was one of the 12 Filipino designers chosen to take part in the FASHIONPhilippines mentorship program in Milan, where they mounted a solo showcase at Fondazione Sozzani. Speaking of the experience, he gushes that he's "in love with Milan."

"There's a place for me there," he goes on, "and all the mentors I've talked to had great responses to the clothes. They could really see it working there." The program runs for three years, so Renz and his batchmates will most likely be traveling back to the fashion capital every September. Each visit is a chance to make a better impression than the last, and for Renz, it's all about representing the best of what our region has to offer.

According to him, the 12 of them have formed a unique bond where there's camaraderie instead of competiton. "There can be a lot of toxic spaces in fashion," he shares, "but when you're around like-minded people, we talk more about being successful as a group or uplifting one another." The group had just savored their first taste of global attention, and it's certainly one they'll keep coming back for.