Bamboo strikes again at the 68th Manila FAME

Earnest Mangulabnan-Zabala

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Bamboo strikes again at the 68th Manila FAME
A bi-annual event, Manila Fame is the second longest running design and lifestyle exhibition in the Asia Pacific

Currently the material of choice among local design visionaries, bamboo has all but shed its “poor man’s material” label. Proof of this can be seen in the awe-inspiring Padyak from Milo Naval, which features an egg-shaped pedicab clad in thin bamboo slats.


Who can forget the hand-made bamboo bikes from Brian McCLelland of Bambike that you can try out for yourself at one of their ecotours of Intramuros, Manila?

Just recently, their Bambino, a bike balance created for kids 2-6 years old was awarded the Good Design by the Japan Institute for Design Promotion.

The award-winning Bambino, the Padyak and other innovations that test the limit of what bamboo can do are among the showstoppers of the 68th edition of Manila FAME to be held from Oct 19-21 at the World Trade Center.

A bi-annual event, Manila Fame is the second longest running design and lifestyle exhibition in the Asia Pacific. Presented by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Mission (CITEM), it aims to be the platform where Filipino design and excellence in artistry meets the world.

At a media preview held at the LRI Design Center in Makati, members of the press were treated to a teaser of what to expect this weekend. We learned that over 360 MSMEs would be featured during the three-day design show covering everything from lifestyle, home décor, lights and fashion accessories.

Aside from the return of the Bamboo 360 display, a must-visit exhibition is the Artisans Village. It highlights the skillful craftsmen from the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Albay, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, and the Marawi City.

Tim Tam Ong’s compelling creations are among those featured at the Manila FAME.

Triboa Bay Living, known for solid wood goes out of their comfort zone with their soft leather furniture collection.

For a more interactive feel, fair attendees are encouraged to join one or all four of the featured workshops located in the Creative Corners.

These include a three-day Leather Reborn Workshop by Asia Pacific Leather Fair Ltd.; Basic Leather Workshop by H.H.S. Leather Goods Enterprises; Traditional Craft Making by CRAFT MNL; and Solar Lamp Making Workshop by My Shelter Foundation under their A Liter of Light program.

What I am most excited to check out this coming weekend is the Design Commune, which has been receiving high praises ever since it made its debut two editions ago.

A brainchild of artist Tony Gonzales, it shall occupy all of 180 square meters and will feature home and lifestyle pieces from 90 manufacturers. Curated by Gonzales and fellow award-winning artist Tes Pasola with design consultant Detlef Klatt, these pieces shall follow a Nude+ theme under four categories: “Nude+Pastel, Nude+Spice, Nude+Earth, Nude+Luster — all focusing on the barely-there shades of off-white & ivory, the palest of pinks and skin-toned hues.”

A taste of what to expect at the Design Commune exhibit.

Home décor in nudes.

The addition of Design Commune to the event is a breath of fresh air.

Initially conceptualized as a trade fair for export purposes, Manila FAME of late has scarcely merited the interest of international buyers. Pasola and company credits this to the fact that there have been less innovative and new products to make the long travel worth it.

“They are not happy so they don’t come anymore,” Pasola acknowledges.

The Design Commune wants to change this perception. And it starts by having a “steady relationship between the manufacturer and the designer. Because it’s only through that that we can come up with a really beautiful showcase that the buyers would love to see,” says Pasola.

It’s paying off. As Pasola tells it, feedback both from the buyers and participating manufactures are on the whole positive. With buyers gushing about how “it’s more interesting now seeing much more products.” On the supply side, manufacturers are seeing an increase in orders and significantly, are getting new buyers.

Design Commune co-curators, artist Tes Pasola and design consultant Detlef Klatt.

In fact, CITEM has just announced that nearly 1,300 local and international buyers have already signed up. Moreover, half of those who committed are first-timers. “We are also proud to announce that more than half of our confirmed trade buyers are attending Manila FAME for the first time. Their presence will be significant in catalyzing new export deals and trade partnerships for Philippine home and lifestyle brands,” says Pauline Suaco-Juan, CITEM executive director.

For Filipinos, Manila FAME is one of the country’s highly anticipated trade shows for home, furniture, fashion and lifestyle pieces. In the face of such a tremendous local support, it is easy to forget that it is primarily an international export show.

“That’s why it’s so necessary to promote the show international again; to bring in the buyers. It’s nice if you sell to three handbags maybe 10 handbags on the bazaar,” says Klatt.

“But if you can get orders for export in the thousands, this helps the industry, this helps the country. Especially think of all the workers in the provinces, the weavers, the people who do the carvings, the artisans. We have to push this, to create again.” – Rappler.com

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