Five Exciting Things to Look Forward to in the 69th Edition of Manila FAME

As the country’s premier design and lifestyle event, Manila FAME is set to open its doors once again to thousands of international and local buyers on 25-27 April at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City.

The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), hosted an exclusive media preview at the Artellano 11 to give a sneak peek of the 69th edition of Manila FAME.

According to DTI-CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, this April edition will have ‘Heritage Reimagined’ as its theme featuring iconic and forward-looking collections under Manila FAME from its over 30 years run as it showcases more than 300 home and lifestyle brands.

“The recent nostalgia over past trends and the revival or reinvention of iconic design pieces are going back in style,” she noted. “It is through this resurgence of design sensibilities that we will redefine and showcase our heritage of Philippine design. Our goal is to highlight the most iconic styles and elements of past products and reintroduce them through modern interpretations.”

Manila FAME has positioned itself as the country’s best venue to discover Filipino design talents, raw materials, craftsmanship and service, and as a trade fair where buyers and visitors can experience the trademark hospitality of Filipinos.

DTI-CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan encourages members of the press to continuously support the Philippine home and lifestyle sector by promoting the upcoming Manila FAME April.

Suaco-Juan said this April edition furthers the government’s mission to support local companies in introducing their products to the international market and effectively promote the Philippines as a premier sourcing destination for furniture, home and holiday décor, fashion, health and wellness and food as gifts sectors.

“This media preview is just a teaser of the exciting showcase and export products from more than 300 exhibitors this edition,” she said. “Join us as we take a look back at the cultural and design foundations that built and paved the way for our artists today and celebrate a legacy of Filipino design excellence.”

As seen from the media preview, here are five things that visitors and buyers should look forward to in the event:

Design Commune

In a bid to continually up its game, CITEM called on design, fashion, editorial and entrepreneurial forces within the creative community to sit as consultants for design commune this edition. Most of them are very new to this role therefore offering a fresh perspective to Manila FAME.

Leading the thematic showcase of ‘Heritage Reimagined’ is creative director Vince Uy under the Design Commune special setting in its fourth run in Manila FAME. For this April, it will feature products from 115 Philippine brands and manufacturers that have undergone product development and curation to meet the aesthetics and demands of the international market.

Some of the country’s top creative minds in the upcoming Manila FAME April 2019 (from left to right): Maco Custodio, Vince Uy, CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, André Chang, Nix Alañon and Stanley Ruiz.

Product development designers who were involved in this edition were Stanley Ruiz for home and lighting; Nix Alañon for furniture and lighting; André Chang for fashion; and PJ Arañador and Maco Custodio for the home and fashion sectors of the Artisans Village.

These luminaries already made a mark in the design and lifestyle sector and now they are using their talents to help MSMEs go further in the international market.

Fashion E-Tailer

Following the launch of Touchpoint last year, Manila FAME levels up its online promotion initiative with the introduction of Fashion E-Tailer special setting.

This edition will feature some of the country’s rising online fashion entrepreneurs and designer commercial brands showcasing the latest trends in both couture and ready-to-wear (RTW) fashion. Young and tech-savvy fashion enthusiasts are set to be enamored by a collection of this season’s trendiest styles.

The online fashion brands to watch out for in the upcoming Manila FAME are; Nomadic Tendencies, Quiddity Leather Goods, AVA Online Group Inc., HaloHalo, Simple Sentiments PH, Baú l, Factory, Stride Collective, Toqa Fashion Studio, Tropik Beatnik, Viajecito, Annie and Lori, Anika, Randolf, Basic Movement, Coral Swimwear, Neon Island, Proudrace, and R-U-A.

CREATE Lab

The CREATE Lab is an exciting new feature designed to inspire and motivate creatives. From creating a personal logo, using stop-motion, to creative business processes, there is a lot of valuable things to learn from the CREATE Lab. It aims to provide participants with a sneak peek into the
rich creative experience and networking opportunities that the next edition of CREATE Philippines will offer.

Great Women Project

The Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women Project) will feature arts and crafts from women entrepreneurs that have undergone product development workshops to enhance their business management competencies, skills, or innovate existing products and expand markets through Manila FAME.

Artisans Village

Manufacturers from Antique, Marawi and Zamboanga and Albay will be presented this edition. Manila FAME’s Artisans Village will showcase products that highlight each province’s distinctive raw materials and production techniques. Live demonstrations of how these materials are crafted and fashioned into end products will also further elevate the event.