Rediscover the True Nature of Design at Manila FAME 2025

Rediscover the true nature of Filipino design at Manila FAME 2025

 

As the second-longest-running trade show in Asia, Manila FAME has built a legacy as the must-attend international sourcing event for Filipino artistry and craftsmanship. For its 73rd edition, happening on October 16-18 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City, the country’s premier trade fair for all things home, fashion, and lifestyle is returning to the core and diving into the roots of Filipino design.

 

With the theme “Objects of Nature,” this year’s iteration is set to be a celebration of everything that makes Filipino artistry sought after all over the world. “The word ‘nature’ refers to our physical world, and it can also mean the qualities that are basic or inherent to a person or an object,” CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido-Ocampo explains. “Within these contexts, ‘Objects of Nature’ has Manila FAME going right into the heart of what we do best. In the process, we unveil the unique selling propositions of our products that have made the Philippines a must-visit sourcing destination for design.”

 

Reconnecting with community and the environment through design

The trade show’s theme takes into account the current international trends, all of which point to nature as a dominating key element for 2025 and 2026. From the use of recycled and upcycled materials to bolder, more playful aesthetics and nature-connected living spaces, the prevalent direction puts a strong focus on sustainability and biophilic design, with the latter a concept that nurtures the relationship between people and the environment.

 

The intrinsic qualities of Filipino design make it a natural fit for this prevailing movement. Thus, Manila FAME 2025 promises to showcase Philippine-made objects inspired by design’s original muse, nature.

 

Visitors can expect a fresh take on design that provides a counterpoint to the increasing influence and impact of technology and AI on daily life. Find meticulously handcrafted items made from natural and indigenous materials, creatively conceptualized and executed using community-based production processes. Discover their multiple iterations, inspired by our rich cultural diversity and heritage. Fall in love with products that are as adaptable as they are unique, thanks to the Filipino pasadya culture that results in bespoke beauty.

 

Highlighting not just products but also people and processes

Since communal effort and cultural influences are innate aspects of Filipino design, Manila FAME’s signature features rightly put the spotlight on the people and the heritage that shape it.

 

Merging artisanship with innovation and sustainability, Design Commune once again has a selection of local manufacturers and brands working under the expert guidance of a renowned designer—this time, with one of Manila FAME’s frequent collaborators, Tony Gonzales. See how the hard work of 21 exhibitors from the lamps and lighting, furniture, home decor, and holiday and seasonal decor categories pushes the boundaries of product development at a dedicated exhibit. Check out the new items that feature the creative use of raw materials, resulting in clever and functional designs.

To cultivate the export capabilities of Philippine artisan communities and enterprises, the capacity-building program Artisans Village provides marketing and technical assistance to regional MSMEs in the handicraft sector and, in the process, highlights products from featured provinces and regions, including their use of indigenous materials, local crafts, and innovative techniques. For 2025, participating MSMEs are fortunate to have Global Trends Ambassador Patti Carpenter making factory visits to help them conceptualize and develop pieces that match their branding while also sharing her vast knowledge of the design business. The design expert is working with local artisans from the following provinces to explore how they could maximize their signature materials and expand their product lineup: Bohol (natural fibers and materials), Ilocos Sur (inabel), Quirino (woodworks and fossilized flowers), and Tarlac (wood, stone, clay, and rattan).

 

Visitors will also get to learn from design and business experts and thought leaders at FAME Talks. Through forums that tackle timely topics, such as “Innovative, Versatile, and Sustainable Approaches to Designing Products for the Home, Fashion, and Lifestyle Sector” and “Global Design Trends for Fashion Accessories,” attendees can delve deeper into the dynamic world of design, gain creative and actionable insights, and develop innovative strategies for navigating an evolving landscape.

 

Elevating how trade shows are done

Guests can look forward, too, to exclusive features that will further enrich their ManilaFAME experience.

 

From a simple product category, Philippine Components, which made its maiden showcase last year, is now an exhibit that focuses on the fundamental building blocks of design: coverings, parts, and fittings. With Tony Gonzales also at its helm for 2025, guests can expect an immersive presentation of specially developed architectural fittings and components developed exclusively for Manila FAME by 15 companies, in the spirit of the pasadya culture.

 

CITEM also brings two of its innovative programs to Manila FAME to showcase a more integrative approach to exporting design. First is CREATELab, an on-site design clinic where professionals offer branding and marketing guidance to participating exhibitors. It is a joint project by CREATEPhilippines, a content and community platform for the Philippine creative industries, and the Communication Design Association of the Philippines (CDAP). Next, with “sustainability” a key concept this year, it’s only right that Sustainability Solutions Exchange (SSX), the country’s first platform promoting sustainable practices, resources, and technology to the world’s essential industries, makes its return to Manila FAME to showcase MSMEs that incorporate circularity into their business practices.

 

Attendees looking to see more of the intersection between traditional crafts and contemporary creativity can also drop by LIKHA, an artisanal exhibit spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady. Marking its fifth edition by participating in Manila FAME 2025, LIKHA will offer the public the opportunity to witness artisans at work, learn more about their creative process, and support locally made, heritage-rich products.

 

Manila FAME 2025 will be a reminder why the Philippines was regarded as the ‘Milan of Asia’ during the ‘80s and the ‘90s,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Al Valenciano says. “We are optimistic that it will generate international sales for our exhibitors, boosting the Philippine design industry to become an even bigger contributor to the country’s economic growth and a bigger player in the global export market.“

 

With all of the programs and features this year’s trade show has in store, buyers and visitors alike can expect to see the best of the best of Filipino artistry and craftsmanship across a wide range of products: fashion; personal care, beauty, and wellness; furniture; home decor and houseware; lamps and lighting; holiday and seasonal decor; gifts, souvenirs, and corporate giveaways; and components.

 

Marvel at these “Objects of Nature” and more up close at Manila FAME 2025 by registering at the trade show’s official website, fameplus.com.

Philippine Fashion Lands in Seoul, South Korea

As part of its program to promote the Philippine creative sector and fashion industry in Korea, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Seoul, in partnership with the Manila Fashion Festival organized and hosted the opening of PH Mode x SEL, a fashion exhibit, from 26-29 October, 2022. The Exhibition will be held at Samcheong Dong, one of the popular spots in Seoul for art and lifestyle with museums, art galleries, fashion stores, and restaurants.

Showcased in the exhibition are exclusive selections created by Philippine senior and contemporary designers by merging Korea’s unique high tech fabric and Philippine indigenous materials, paving way for creative synergy.

Started in 2014, the Manila Fashion Festival (MFF) is a bi-annual event and produced over 150 designers and brands shows with eight (8) major fashion media partners in the Philippines. The MFF is considered as the largest fashion runway event in the Philippines today and highlights the artistry of Filipino fashion talents.

Additionally, PH MODE was created as a compilation brand to showcase modern Philippine fashion design overseas. It serves as a gateway for collaboration with international suppliers and to develop an efficient supply chain for Philippine designers, as well as to provide business launching opportunities for this young emerging market.

The PH MODE x SEL by MFF is in collaboration with Korea’s leading textile company, IGS.F, which produces high tech fabric brand called GRAPHENETEX. The exhibit features an exclusive collection ensemble created by MFF selected Philippine senior and contemporary designers, showcasing a fusion of Korea’s unique high-tech fabric and Philippine indigenous material (traditional handwoven textile).

In February 2023, the MFF will return to Manila for Season 15 showcasing the Tokyo and Seoul collections with participating designers from Tokyo, Taipei, and Seoul.

Through MFF’s unique strategic international positioning, the Philippines will soon become a major player in global fashion.

Casa de Memoria’s Tercero Auction Present Unique Art Pieces to Complement Living Spaces

Casa de Memoria is all set to usher in Tercero, its third major auction for the year featuring unique pieces that can complement the design and look of every living space.

To be held on September 26, 2020 (Saturday) at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, Tercero will feature more than 200 curated Euro-Filipino art pieces that can lend a timeless touch to your home.

Must-see masterpieces at Tercero are those of revered Filipino artists, such as the pair of 20th century fine prints by Spanish-Filipino artist, museum founder, and philanthropist Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo titled "La Piedra del Caballo" and "Fragmento del Altar Mayor de la Catedral de Santiago" which are both initially priced at Php 30,000. Another masterpiece by renowned Filipino sculptor Isabelo Tampinco will also be featured at the auction. A statement piece for any household, Tampinco's sculpture – a gladiator soldier in marble cast – bears comparable likeness to the piece in the collection of the National Museum of the Philippines and is up for sale with a starting bid of Php 90,000.

Other specially curated Tercero lots that can instantly add splendor to any living space are artworks by celebrated artists from different parts of Europe. These include an original lithograph by 20th century Spanish artist Joan Miró with a starting bid of only Php 18,000, a lithograph depicting “The Creation of Eve” by Salvador Dali with a starting bid of P60,000, and an oil painting of Saint Dorothy of Caesarea by Antonio Rivas priced at Php 20,000 to start.

In addition, Tercero will offer more of history's most beautiful antiquities, heirlooms, and objets d’art ranging from paintings, furniture pieces, sculptures, memorabilia, centerpieces, and religious iconographies, among many others. These include a 19th century French Napoleon III style credenza in lacquered wood, a 17thcentury Flemish school oil on copper painting depicting the Pericope Adulterae, a pair of ivory sculptures of ethical provenance depicting Greek goddesses Ceres and Chloris, and a 19th century French Art Nouveau Galle vase.

Explore the auction pieces and register for the auction at http://bit.ly/CasaDeMemoriaOnline. Registered members will have access to a console. If you won't be able to join, absentee bids can be placed before the auction. Interested parties may also opt for telephone bidding.

For more details, call (02) 8253-3994 or e-mail hello@casadememoria.com. For more information, visit https://www.casadememoria.com/ or follow @thecasadememoria on Facebook and @casadememoria on Instagram.

Explore the Different Dimensions of Art at the Most Anticipated Ortigas Art Festival From Bocetos to Multimedia Art Everything is Here

The Philippine art scene has just elevated itself a notch with the third run of the
award-winning Ortigas Art Festival, which has expanded Filipinos’ art consciousness and masterfully brought art within the grasp of more people.
Recognized and awarded in the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and International Business Awards 2019 for their continuous and innovative effort in making art more accessible to ordinary people, this year’s art festival, that is again held at Estancia at the Commons, promises guests even more to enjoy this year.

For one, international artists have joined the exhibit, which was especially curated by the highly talented and multi-awarded Renato Habulan, resident curator of Eskinita Gallery. As an added plus, the festival is featuring bocetos through ​Papelismo Boceto for the first time, not only to highlight the artists’ creative process, but also to allow more art enthusiasts the opportunity to own the works of renowned artists at more affordable rates. Over 300 bocetos from over 100 artists will be showcased at the exhibit.

Among the artists whose works are on exhibit are independent artists Arnel Borja, Richard Buxani, Allison David, and Sam Penaso. Joining them are Arnel Agawin, Julio Austria, Jeho Bitancor, Gala Caki, Justo Cascante III, Reynold dela Cruz, Michelle Dawson, Feliciano Gallardo, Processo Gelladuga II, Katrinn Hamann, Sahid Kazi, Leonor RS Lim, Alfonso Medillo, Dengcoy Miel, Rey Padernilla, Made Palguna, Manuel Rubio, Joel Soliven, Art Zamora, and Jose Zulueta. Also on exhibit are works from three galleries, among them, Eskinita Art Gallery, Kaida Contemporary Gallery, and vMeme Contemporary Art Gallery.
“We have always believed that art should be enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and the best way to promote art appreciation is by bringing art exhibits right where people converge, which are malls. Over the past three years that we’ve had the art festival at Estancia, we were surprised to see the great and growing interest in art among Filipinos, both young and old. This is why we have continued with the art festival and added features which we think will be of added interest to more people,” said Arch. Renée Bacani, VP of Ortigas Malls.

Complementing the exhibit are workshops by local and international artists for those who are eager to develop their skills. Seven workshops have been lined up for learners of all skill levels. On Feb 29, there will be a Mixed Media demonstration by international artists Gala Caki, Sahid Kazi, and Katrinn Haman. On March 1, learn Multimedia from Michelle Dawson, Made Palguna, and Rey dela Cruz.

Get inspired by the sheer artistry and talent on show at the exhibit, which runs until March 8. Admission is free. And don’t forget to participate on the comment board by the entrance of the exhibit!

For more information on Estancia’s Ortigas Art Festival, visit their social media pages at https://www.facebook.com/EstanciaPH/ and  www.instagram.com/estanciaph​, and subscribe to their newsletter at​ ​www.ortigasmalls.com​.