Curtain Couture features real Filipino LGBTQ teens celebrating a secret rite of passage– showing off homemade outfits made out of clothespins and curtains. In the film, the models strut proudly on the streets, to “Mariposa Bella” (Beautiful Butterfly), a century-old Spanish folk song that was modernized to gain new life and meaning, now narrating the metamorphosis of today’s LGBTQ youth.

Bench has been a long-time LGBTQ supporter and has, in the past, launched various campaigns to support LGBTQ causes such as but not limited to: 1) Trans representation in the Philippine Fashion Industry; 2) mainstream representation of LGBTQ relationships, and 3) tackling issues of coming out.

Filipino kids have always been portrayed as the traditional, cute children of hetero-normative families. LGBTQ kids were rarely shown in mainstream media, and when they are shown, they are typecast as the flamboyant comedic relief in support of the beautiful hetero heroine.

The Brand wanted to break this mold and show LGBTQ kids as the stars of their own show as opposed to supporting characters to straight people’s lives. They are portrayed as realistically flamboyant but not the butt of society’s jokes. The goal is to create conversations by celebrating LGBTQ experiences.

“Mariposa Bella” (Beautiful Butterfly) is a century-old folk song from the 1890s, composed by Spanish colonizers. The song was an ode to the traditional beauty and grace of Filipino women, comparing them to butterflies. In the 1990s, the song was used to mock effeminate boys, calling them beautiful and graceful like butterflies. In 2023, Bench modernized the song and reclaimed it to empower a new generation, now narrating the metamorphosis of today’s LGBTQ youth.

The SOGIE Bill, which aims to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression was filed in 2004 but has not been enacted into law up until today. With no protection from the government, crimes against LGBTQ people, especially trans women, are now up to 200+ (since the mid 90s) with school violence and workplace discrimination still running rampant.

One of Bench’s past campaigns, “Love all kinds of Love” was censored by the Philippine Advertising Standards Council after major complaints from religious and conservative groups. The brand’s billboard showed two men, celebrities who were in a relationship, holding hands. Their hands were painted over by conservatives who protested the showing of obvious homosexual relations.

The amount of positive reactions to this film is made more significant against the country’s very conservative culture.