Tweet us @PhilStarSUPREME

MANILA, Philippines - The art and soul of Filipino craftsmanship take center stage once more as Manila FAME, Asia’s biggest design and lifestyle event, features the unique ingenuity, creative geniuses, and innate talent of Filipino artisans in the event’s 56th edition from Oct. 17 to 20.

Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) executive director Rosvi C. Gaetos revealed that with this year’s theme, “The Art of the Craftsman equals the Soul of the Philippines,” the spotlight is on the Philippines’ top creative professionals and homegrown brands that have continuously sustained global interest in Filipino craftsmanship.

This year’s Manila FAME takes visitors to another level of Filipino craftsmanship as it presents more unique and extraordinary offerings. Among them is a presentation of the 10 Design Houses created by internationally acclaimed upcoming Filipino designers, who are able to marry their creativity and the country’s indigenous materials with their individual sensibilities to create works of art that are both functional and visually appealing. These designers include Milo Naval, Ito Kish, Iñigo Elizalde, Stanley Ruiz, Vito Selma, Wataru Sakuma, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Robert Alejandro, Daniel Latorre Cruz, and Olivia d’Aboville.

Thirty-year retail and sourcing veteran from the USA and Manila FAME project director James Booth described the concept behind the Design Houses as, “Entry points for buyers and visitors to underscore what makes the Philippines ideal and unique. The Philippines has an abundance of sustainable raw materials suitable for products and top-caliber design leadership that rank at the top in today’s marketplace.”

Designer and teacher at the School of Fashion and the Arts Manila, Amina Aranaz-Alunan creates a glamorous summer and seaside lifestyle expressed through two collections: Retro Seaside and Oceanic Opulence.

Spanish-Filipino and New York-based designer Iñigo Elizalde pays tribute to the very Filipino jeepney and the collage aesthetic that it is known for. “This, combined with the vibrant colors found in the Philippines and the use of age-old textile designs, drives my collection forward for today’s living,” shares Inigo.

Young Cebuano designer Vito Selma’s design style features the use of indigenous materials. “It showcases the roots where these products come from and the furniture that grows from them. After all, what is a furniture show but a forest of manufacturers, a forest of ideas and a forest of designs?” he says.

These are only some of the interesting design concepts to look out for in this edition of Manila FAME.

With the industry’s humble beginnings, which are reflective of rich craft heritage, myriad influences, combined with age-old artisan techniques and materials, an eye for beauty and expert hands, the Manila FAME has metamorphosed into the world’s favorite sourcing hub for creatively designed and distinct products that have found its way to the homes of notable personalities like Queen Rania of Jordan and Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; leading lifestyle stores retailers such as Bloomingdales, Armani Casa, Harrods, and Papaya; and the pages of high-end magazines such as Maisons Cote Sud and many more.

Witness the best of what our country has to offer as 350 Philippine exhibitors showcase their high-quality, design-driven products and appreciate Filipino craftsmanship with CITEM’s Manila FAME event on Oct. 17 to 20 at the SMX Convention Center, Metro Manila, Philippines.

For more information about Manila FAME, visit www.manilafame.com or e-mail infor@manilafame.com.ph.