Design-forward craftsmanship

MANILA, Philippines — Twice a year, in April and October, the country’s designers, artisans, manufacturers and the country’s best micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) get together to show international trade buyers the latest products of their creativity and skill.

Now on its 68th edition, the country’s premiere trade platform for exports and design, Manila FAME, unfolds on Oct. 19-21, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The bi-annual trade show continues to stand as a blank canvas for the country’s skillful artisans, providing a platform that nurtures creative freedom among entrepreneurs. 

This time, Manila FAME will anchor on the shades of off white and ivory, the palest pinks and skin-toned hues. These soft colors are basic, discreet, timeless and classic, the perfect base that leaves plenty of freedom to add more.

“To emphasize the teeming ingenuity of local designers and entrepreneurs, Manila FAME serves as a springboard where they can explore their imagination. This will help us take Filipino craftsmanship to the next level,” said Paulina Suaco-Juan, the newly appointed CITEM executive director.

Manila FAME will put together exporters, designers and retail brands from all over the country under one roof to highlight Filipino artistry in the global marketplace. It will gather the best products from homegrown MSMEs in the home, furniture, lighting, holiday and gifts, fashion, visual arts and “food as gifts” sectors.

Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Mission (CITEM), the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, Manila FAME aims to strengthen the country’s position as a viable source of high-quality, and design-forward home décor and houseware products.

The upcoming edition of Manila FAME will feature the third edition of Design Commune. This special setting was conceptualized to establish a steady designer-manufacturer relationship where designers understand the skills of manufacturers, and manufacturers recognize the significance of product design and development.

This collaboration will conceive a constant output of well-designed products, creating an extensive showcase that meets the buyers’ expectation of a sourcing destination. The products to be developed will be segmented towards various markets, including Europe, US and Japan.

The main special setting will be designed by award-winning artist Tes Pasola who previously worked as a co-curator in the Product Design Consultancy Program during the April 2018 Edition of Manila FAME. During the same period, she was commissioned to make paper art collages for the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manila.

A staple of Manila FAME, the Artisan Village is a venue for masterfully made handcrafted pieces designed by Filipino MSMEs to be introduced in the international market. As part of CITEM’s commitment to promote the participation of local communities in Manila FAME, handicrafts from Antique, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Marawi will be displayed to showcase the artistic capabilities and product selection of local artisans.

Taking after the youthful energy of today’s generation, the Bamboo Extreme program pushes the use of bamboo as a raw material for high-end lifestyle pieces. It seeks to provoke and renew interest in the local resource, veering away from bamboo’s reputation as a “poor man’s material.”  Spearheaded by the Design Center of the Philippines, the program is a disruptive, conceptual presentation of the bamboo material as it speaks of adventure, exploration and experimentation through the application of bamboo into product collections that capture the millennials’ way of life.

Another returning special feature for this edition is the Home and Wellness Pavilion. This special area will showcase a wide range of gourmet gifts, health & wellness products and services, and other fiber-based goods manufactured by select grassroots communities supported by the Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness Marketing Service.

To continue the tradition of giving recognition to design-forward local enterprises, Manila FAME will also hold the annual KATHA Awards, the hallmark of product design excellence and innovation. It will distinguish the most innovative local fashion and lifestyle industries among the Manila FAME exhibitors who continue to develop and redefine the prestige of Philippine design.