Manila FAME Turns 60

Manila FAME, the country’s premier design and lifestyle event, once again unveils the modern Filipino’s design sensibility and brings together promising talents and seasoned artisans all under one roof in its 60th edition at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay on October 16-19.

Each edition of Manila FAME features various programs aiming to position the Philippines as an ideal sourcing hub of finely crafted products for the local and global market. Among the event highlights this October are Design Philippines Scenography, ‘Be Our Guest’: A Table Accessories Showcase, Manila Wear, NeoTextiles Philippines, Red Box (Home), OTOP Marketplace, International Hall, and Modernizing the Masters.

“This edition of Manila FAME is set to unfold cutting-edge collections of handcrafted products designed by the Filipino craftsmen. Through this bi-annual event, CITEM intends to solidify the image of the Filipinos’ artistry and design ingenuity in the global community,” said Rosvi Gaetos, executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).

Under the creative direction of Budji Layug, the Design Philippines scenography gives life to three stories with a strong statement on what is design forward, popular, artisanal, and soulful – Soulcrafts, Luxe, and Gen C. It features the latest designs from a collection crafted by designers and exhibitors under the Design for Exports program, as well as, choice pieces from the experts in home design and fashion. Eric Paras and Stanley Ruiz collaborate in designing the Design Philippines central setting.

CITEM has tapped German master florist and designer Detlef Klatt who celebrates the art of dining with an attractive, ready-to-buy collection of table accessories developed under the Design for Exports Program in collaboration with 17 manufacturers who are experts in working with materials such as abaca (a plant fiber), ceramic, wood, metal, capiz, mother of pearl, and other natural materials. On three 13-meter-long tables, baskets and bowls, trays and centerpieces, and tablecloths and placemats are laid out in an extraordinary presentation — a play of patterns, textures, and shapes that masterfully blend the table, products, and surrounding elements to create still-life compositions that speak of a love for feasting and merrymaking.

In the fashion scene, renowned fashion designers Cesar Gaupo, Lulu Tan-Gan, and JC Buendia team up with international fashion icon Josie Natori as curator for this edition’s presentation of Manila Wear. Manila Wear continues to position the Philippines as an advocate of unique fashion pieces that combine artisanal crafts with contemporary sensibilities — a fresh take on a more individualized and personal style of fashion.

NeoTextiles promotes Philippine indigenous fibers and textiles, and aims to support the multitude of weaving communities that produce them. With new design directions from CITEM’s product specialists Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Olivia d’Aboville, these fibers and textiles become commercially viable and globally competitive; enabling traditional weaves to embrace today’s trends to create products that are versatile and modern.

In every Manila FAME edition, the Red Box introduces young designers who are matched with local manufacturers to create innovative products that reflect their unique design sensibility.

Red Box is a design development program of CITEM which aims to create the next generation of Philippine design talents. This October edition, Red Box Home Scenography features Rachelle Dagñalan, Lilianna Manahan, Leeroy New, and Joseph Rastrullo.

The One Town, One Product (OTOP), a priority program of the Bureau of Domestic Trade (BDT), aims to promote entrepreneurship and job creation in the country’s various regions. OTOP Marketplace showcases handcrafted pieces by passionate Filipino craftsmen whose skills have been passed on through generations of artisans.

OTOP manufacturers team up with senior designers Viña Domingo-Roy and Rey Soliven, who both mentored Dagñalan and Rastrullo, to produce the latest collection from the regions.

This edition, the International Hall features more exhibitors of home and fashion from Asia and the Pacific, who will present their brand of creativity and skillful workmanship. Trade buyers from the Philippines and overseas who regularly come to Manila FAME will find a wider variety of products to source. Participating countries are Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Taiwan.

At the entrances leading to the ground-floor exhibits, Rogue magazine presents “Modernizing the Masters” where four talented artists pay tribute to the undisputed luminaries of Philippine art by creating works that evoke their spirit and style while ushering them into the realm of modernity.

Manila FAME is one of the longest running trade shows in the Asia Pacific, and is the only trade event in the country approved by the Union des Foires Internationales (UFI), the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. It is organized by CITEM, the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).