R’Bonney Gabriel looks to the land and sea for inspiration for her first runway collection in the Philippines
R’Bonney Gabriel has taken her crown and traded it for a sewing needle. Her debut collection, How to Survive on Land and Sea, made a splash at BENCH Fashion Week Holiday 2024, showcasing her take on her Filipino and American roots. The collection reflects the designer‘s independence, much like the tides of where she’s been and where she’s heading.
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When asked about the collection, R’Bonney shared, “I haven’t created an actual collection for a fashion show in six years. So when I was thinking of what I wanted this collection to represent, I really wanted to come back to me and something that’s true to who I am.”
With sustainability and upcycling at her design core, her debut collection in the Philippines was made with BENCH end-of-season clothing recreated by her signature deconstructed technique, with shells repurposed as embellishments. This truth is crafted into every piece, especially her final look, a creation made from actual mussels.
The look featured tahong shells that were first served with cheese, scrubbed clean, and then glittered to an effect. It was a delightful appetizer turned into a statement piece where these shells detoured from the dinner table to the runway, channeling a touch of The Little Mermaid.
Completed just hours before the show, the designer shared, “I’ve been stressed about it for a long time…I’m so happy that it turned out beautifully.” Gabriel’s ability to adapt and create, even with limited resources, reflects the collection’s theme of survival and resilience.
And who else would wear it but the reigning Miss Universe Philippines 2024, Chelsea Manalo? It was an example of Queen supporting Queen, revealing that even fashion has its own royal endorsement.
“I was curating a look inspired by her,” she revealed. “Chelsea is just so beautiful, and I think it fit her really well. She’s shining. She’s the girl of the moment right now, and I was excited to collaborate with her.”
From beauty queen to designer, R’Bonney Gabriel has proven she knows how to turn heads—whether on the stage, the runway, or the beach. She closed the show with a look that was both regal and rooted in the land and sea.
