TRNZ in 2023 Bench Fashion Week
“First and foremost, I’m not a fashion designer,” visual artist TRNZ starts with a disclaimer. “I’m a visual artist who primarily does painting.”
TRNZ, 30, met people from BENCH through the gallery he works in. For the 2023 Bench Fashion Week Spring Summer show, BENCH opted to collaborate with an artist instead of a fashion designer for its sister brand, Human. “Although there was definitely some technical stuff that is not in my expertise, I think I was able to offer a different take on the collaboration,” TRNZ says.
For the Human collaboration, entitled Good Friend Circle, his artworks which give off Japanese anime vibe are imprinted on Human shirts and tees. TRNZ explains he explored the idea that as we progress in life, our circle gets smaller, “This collection is a toast to our shrinking friend circles.”
“I have a penchant for misarrangement. I like putting different things in different contexts to come up with my own narrative,” he says. That is why the show collection has mix-matching elements of shorts over pants, tying up sweaters and shirts and making it into a cape, laundry and pool items as accessories—all of which give a visual message of what he wants to convey.
After his successful collaboration with Human, TRNZ will have an upcoming show this April at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery in Makati and in October at Thinkspace in Los Angeles, California. And his collection with Human may just be a first of many for there is discussion with the brand about making this collaboration a long-term one.
