Manila FAME 2024: Displaying the Unique Qualities of Philippine Design

Since its inception in 1983, Manila FAME has offered Filipino craftspeople and artisans a platform to advertise their products to an international audience. This year’s trade show happened at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay from October 17 to 19.

Centered on the theme “reimagination,” the fair highlighted Filipino ingenuity and the ability to reimagine raw local materials into something functional and beautiful. Hundreds of companies participated, many of them specializing in artisanal products. BluPrint was on ground for its opening day, and found a common running theme of hand-crafted sustainable products that push design forward.

New Progressions in Craft

Major companies came to the event with their best foot forward, showcasing progressions of their designs that make them stand out locally and internationally. From genteelhome’s collaboration with Arch. Royal Pineda to Jed Yabut’s newest product innovations, the major brands let themselves known to be in the forefront of design. 

“[The booth] is mostly to showcase what we are capable of and what we are evolving [to] as a company. Because we have been known to do rattan furniture, now we’re working mostly on  wooden furniture and chandeliers and wall art. So more variety in terms of the product mix. So that’s what we do now,” Yabut said about his Manila FAME exhibit. 

Many companies locked into the theme of “reimagination” in their presentations. Azcor Lighting Systems, for example, demonstrated a variety of designs to give viewers an idea of their broader talents. 

“Actually, everything here is most likely experimental. We’re just showing what are the different designs that can be used. So, we’re just representing our designs that can be put on any type [of material]. Pwede siya yung i-combo sa wrought iron, sa rattan, sa machuca. So we’re just experimenting. We’re just kick starting our designs,” a representative from the company said.

This spirit of reimagination is best seen in the Design Commune Home in the center of the convention hall. Curated by Rita Nazareno and Gabby Lichauco, the exhibit showcases “25 Philippine manufacturers and brands” with their most unique offerings, largely made from sustainably sourced materials. 

All the products showcased are functional as well. Viewers get a glimpse of how designers reintegrate their cultural influences, including “extinct animals and plants,” for practical purposes.

Regional Talents

A majority of the companies in Manila FAME come from the provinces and different regions outside Metro Manila. Many places, such as Deco Central from Region III, are using their platform to promote different companies in their respective regions.

“Each company [has] their own specialties, so we’re trying to promote them [as] being proudly locally made, proudly Philippine made, and this is trying to market them not just locally, but internationally as well,” the company said.

One booth showcases the One Town One Product (OTOP) Program of DTI. This program focuses on micro, small, and medium enterprises and the unique products that cater both locally and abroad. They give different types of assistance to these businesses, from infrastructure to financing and marketing needs. 

“OTOP empowers rural communities to be more competitive and market-driven,” their write-up said. “By collaborating with both private and public sectors, the program fosters innovation and creates opportunities for sustainable [products].”

Other booths hammer home the cultural variety that abound in each region. The Bohol region, for example, showed off their artisanal sea salt Asín tibuok. Their exhibit advertised the salt as rare and one-of-a-kind, with its long, traditional manufacturing process. Tarlac, meanwhile, had hand-crafted bags with strong materials and interesting designs.

“We all know that Tarlac is known as the melting pot of the Philippines,” a representative at the Tarlac booth said. “So therefore, it showcases not just the Tarlac products, but kind of a diverse [roster of] materials and ways on how to show their creativity. For instance, this Bayong Gracia, one of our products, showcases the Apo Whang-od Inspiration Bag that showcases the cultural heritage that we Filipinos are trying to preserve.” 

Perspectives into Local Sustainability

Beyond the regional talents, a big highlight of Manila FAME was their focus on sustainability. With the climate crisis becoming a realer and darker scenario for the Philippines, many companies are now crafting their own products with sustainably-sourced materials. 

Among the companies showcasing their sustainability bonafides is Indigenous, which claims to source their materials and practices from indigenous peoples and practices. 

“We’re a sustainable company,” a representative said. “We don’t use any plastic in our products. If you notice, these are all natural materials. We use abaca paper,” she continued, pointing to the various products around her. “That’s abaca paper. And then that one there is the pineapple paper. And this one is the coconut husk. We also don’t use artificial adhesives. We use the cassava starch. And then we have our own plant based solutions. So, mostly, all our products are plant based.”

Another company that puts sustainability in the forefront is Freden Export, a handicrafts company. “We [have been] manufacturing since 1970. We started with a bird carving, and hand painted [products]. Throughout the years, it evolved. And now, we focus on recycled materials,” their representative said.  

Describing their products, they said that their method is “recycling nature, [and] turning it into a home decoration.”

KATHA Awards

During the second day, the organizers announced the winners of the KATHA Awards. The organizers see the award as “a hallmark of Philippine product design excellence and innovation.”

The following companies won accolades during the ceremony at Manila FAME.

• Best Product Design for Furniture: Zulu Bench, from FINALI
• Best Product Design for Lamps and Lighting: Fauna, from AZCOR LIGHTING SYSTEM
• Best Product Design for Home Decor and Houseware: Achite Chess Board Set, from BON ACE
• Best Product Design for Fashion: Pisa Handbag from BON ACE
• Best Product Design for Holiday Decor and Gifts: Nutcracker Ornaments, from P&B VALISES ET COMPAGNIE

• Eco Design Award: PAEA Table Runner, from BUTTONS ‘N THINGS

• Best Booth Design: P&B VALISES ET COMPAGNIE
• Best Sustainable Booth Design: ZARATE MANILA

Manila FAME: Spotlight on Filipino Craft

As the three day trade fair drew to a close, Manila FAME really gave a great perspective into where Filipino design currently stands today. It doesn’t just display our progressive, front-facing view into the future, but also how we integrate our past practices into creating unique product designs that stand out from the rest of the world. 

The companies at Manila FAME expressed their hopes that this event will not just showcase our ingenuity, but the talent and creativity behind each and every design and product in that convention hall.

“I think this […] is all about showcasing the talents of Pinoys,” the representative from Tarlac said. “And of course, they’re flourishing in their creativity. [This allows us to] be able to showcase worldwide so we could be able to show to the world that we Filipinos are capable of exporting products as well, that could be given not just for the local market, but for the international as well.”

Photos by Kieran Punay.

Related reading: Global Pinoy: FAME+ Sets the World Stage for Local Artisans

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