Cebu furniture still has the X factor

Cebu is famed for its long history, beautiful white-sand beaches and heavenly mangoes. There is also another thing that this hospitable place is known for: its furniture industry. Cebu hosts a number of renowned furniture designers and manufacturers who are recognized internationally. Their creations are sought after by leading lifestyle stores and A-list stars around the world.

Recently, however, there has been concern over the Cebu furniture industry’s survival in these difficult times of dollar devaluation, rising material costs and high tariffs.

The fact that over 40 manufacturers closed down in 2007 should be cause for alarm. This represents a significant drop in production, resulting in a loss of income for many, not just exporters who are directly affected but the hundreds of factory workers who have lost their main source of steady income. Then there are the subcontractors and their own workers who produce separate components for the exporters.

Some manufacturers who are surviving and doing quite well feel that exporters must now focus on specific target markets or niches. There are also those, such as the multi-awarded Kenneth Cobonpue, who feel that producing high-end limited lines, alongside active participation in the distribution process, is the way to go because there is no way they can compete with mass-produced, cheaper goods from China. This is reflected in the demand for luxury items in limited numbers, which smaller, more specialized companies like Cebu Intertrade Export (known for exquisitely made items supplied to the likes of Fendi, Asprey, and Williams-Sonoma) create.

Visits by top foreign designers to the country reinforce this feeling. They believe that our strengths lie in hand carving and finishing. The leading outdoor furniture company Dedon, for example, acknowledges the Cebuano weavers’ skills as being superior to those of neighboring countries. Steady orders for quality reproduction and period-inspired items that utilize carved details also reinforce this. Pacific Traders, a large company that has augmented its enviable line of fine furniture with more contemporary lines (such as those designed by Patricia Urquiola), has shown that efficiency is key to producing continuous orders.

There are also manufacturers who feel the government has not done enough to address the issue and help an industry that is a symbol of pride for Cebu.

Echoing manufacturers’ sentiments, Bob Booth of Mehitabel, the venerable company that is an institution in the industry since 1947, suggests that more incentives should be given to help the market.

I personally feel that exporters should not disregard the local market. Perhaps their usual disdain for local orders can be put aside, and new lines developed for local consumption alongside their usual export range. The boom in construction here is a clear sign that there is a market that needs to be furnished, so to speak, with their goods. A number of hotels and resorts are coming up around the country, and those represent contract orders in quantities that are sure to fill the exporters’ minimum orders, at the very least. Condominium buildings are sprouting up all over Metro Manila and each unit will obviously need furniture and accessories. A more design-conscious generation is now eager to follow the latest trends and they like to spend on their homes. The local market at this time simply cannot be ignored.

Perhaps this is why the recent Cebu X Furniture Show stood out from the previous shows they have staged. While it was understandably a smaller event this year, with the loss of many former exhibitors, it still managed to showcase truly amazing furniture and accessories that will undoubtedly be seen in the stores and top design magazines abroad in the coming year.

In fact, first-day figures provided by the CFIF showed record attendance by registered buyers, whose orders reflected this. Designs were truly inspired and workmanship of top quality.

The year’s winning piece was a settee by Allan Murillo for Murillos Export International. It utilized dyed abaca wrapped around a steel core that integrated the legs to the back and armrests in an undulating form, reminding me of the timeless shapes of bentwood furniture produced in the early 20th century.

The best booth design was won by Clayton Tugonon for his dramatic giant woven mat made of natural reeds wrapped around Classical Geometry’s brightly colored furniture.

Another interesting side to the Cebu X show is that they showcase and give citations to student designers. This provides a venue for young talents to work within a mentorship program, whereby their ideas are realized by a sponsoring manufacturing company. Indeed, as shown by the works exhibited by these student designers, the future of strong local design is assured.

The winning design was Pandora by Maria Cano for Kirsten International, a company known for working with top local designers. Cuckoo’s Nest, a sublimely understated branch-form lamp in stainless steel crowned by a “nest” of treated, fire-retardant coconut fiber by Kai Igot, represented by ICI, won for best home accessory. The brilliance of the design is in the use of a humble material juxtaposed with the modernity of polished steel and blended with an updated form found in nature. 

A special citation was given to eco-friendly products and processes, with Natures Legacy Eximport and Mastercraft Philippines being awarded for their furniture that blends good contemporary design with ecologically safe materials while using a system that directly helps the communities of their workers.

In fact, Cebu manufacturers pride themselves on earning environmental clearance certificates, meaning that they share a responsibility in the welfare of the residents around them.

In an industry where survival is affected by so many factors — from currency exchange rates to design innovations — I believe Cebu can once again weather this current storm, with strong government support and orders from a local market.