Manila FAME features the art of the craftsman 

For its 56th edition on 17-20 October 2012, Manila FAME, Asia's Design and Lifestyle event, will highlight the Filipino artisans and their craftsmanship as the soul of the country. This event is being organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export marketing authority of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry.

 

“The Filipino craftsmen, with their innate talent and unique ingenuity for the past decades, have sparked global interest in Philippine craftsmanship. With unparalleled design style made by Filipino hands, Philippine furniture and furnishings, holiday decor and gifts and fashion continue to make the country the design hub in Asia,” said CITEM Executive Director Rosvi C. Gaetos.With the new theme of “The Art of the Craftsman equals the Soul of the Philippines”, new facets on the show will be presented putting the spotlight to the Philippine top creative professionals and home grown brands of the country's leading names in the design industry. Some of the event features that will give buyers and visitors more reason to visit the show are the 10 Design Houses, Garden and Fashion Pavilions,and the Crafts and Style Spots. 

 

Executive Director Gaetos also added that with its trademark of being the country’s trade show for top-notch artistry and craftsmanship, buyers and guests can expect more of the extraordinary and unique offerings from this edition.

 

“Buyers can look forward to the 10 Design Houses created by carefully-selected internationally acclaimed and upcoming Filipino designers. With the Design Houses, these designers take design to the ultimate level as they creatively combine the country's indigenous materials with their individual sensibilities,” said James Booth, Project Director for the October 2012 edition of Manila FAME. James Booth is a recognized American home furnishings retail marketing expert tapped by the CITEM to head its team of lifestyle designers and marketers.  

While the Garden Pavilion connect buyers and visitors alike to the environment with the refreshing joys of Life Alfresco; the Garden Pavilion is a collaboration among Manila FAME's Creative Team: Project Director James Booth and internationally renowned designers Josie Natori, Budji Layug, and Kenneth Cobonpue and visual merchandise specialist Ito Kish.

 

For the Craft Spots, Filipino artisans will pave the way to a high new level of Philippine design and artisanship through their live presentation of age-old tradition and centuries-old discipline which are also useful to the export industry. On the other hand, the Style Spots display avant-garde products from a cross-merchandise presentation of color, texture, material and form that are in tune with the three leading Macro Trends in the world today- Eco-Sustainability, Hyper-Localism, and Being In Connection.

 

Manila FAME also continues the Manila Wear collection in the Fashion Pavilion which will be curated by internationally renowned designer Josie Natori. Manila Wear positions the Philippine fashion industry to cater to an emerging set of global fashionistas living the jet-set-meets-gypsy lifestyle.

 

From scarves made from handloom fabric with gold leather inserts to an exclusive clutch featuring textured shell inlay and meticulous metalsmithing to bold fashion jewelry and gift items using irregularly cut stone handcrafted by brass artisans using the ancient lost wax method, Manila Wear offers a fresh take on a more individualized and personal style of fashion to cater to a world opposite that of fast fashion, conspicuous consumption and the age of excess.

 

On focus are designers JC Buendia, Rajo Laurel, Dennis Lustico, Jojie Lloren, Jun Artajo, Maco Custodio, Adante Leyesa, Oj Hofer,  Randy Ortiz,  Lulu Tan Gan,  Lally Dizon, Kristine Dee,  Emi Jorge,  Hindy Tantoco,  Ken Samudio,  Dita Sandico-Ong,  Malou Romero,  Nicole Whisenhunt, Joyce Makitalo,  Yako Reyes, Janice Minor,  Arnel Papa, Patrice Ramos –Diaz,  Joel Escober,  Amina Aranaz, under the curatorial leadership of Josie C. Natori.

 

Aside from the event features, international trade buyers can also expect more of the extraordinary and unique offerings from Manila FAME through the show's Special Buyers Services. Buyers that will register on or before 15 September are eligible to get complimentary three days and two nights luxurious hotel accommodations from Manila FAME partner hotels, pre-arranged appointments to the show's exhibitors' factories, and the FAME white-glove assistance services. 

 

With the industry's humble beginnings which is reflective of rich craft heritage, myriad influences, combined with age-old artisan techniques and materials, eye for beauty, and expert hands, the Manila FAME has metamorphosed into the world's favorite sourcing hub for creatively-designed and distinct products that have found its way in homes of notable personalities like Queen Rania of Jordan and Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; leading lifestyle stores retailers such as Bloomingdales, Armani Casa, Harrods, El Corte Ingles, Neiman Marcus, Pottery Barn, Tangs, Etoile Design, Noor Design, United Furniture Company, and Papaya; and pages of high-end magazines such as Maisons Cote Sud, Habitus Living Australia, Furnishings International, Belle, Archidea, Moblaje, and many more. 

 

Around 350 Philippine exhibitors are expected to showcase their high-quality and design-driven products in Manila FAME at the SMX Convention Center, Metro Manila, Philippines. 

 

“The Philippine craftsmen own a true know-how, which deserves to be known beyond their frontiers,” said Alix de Dives, writer, Maisons Cote Sud, a French decor magazine about the art of living. Alix de Dives recently visited the Philippines to feature Filipino craftsmanship.

 

World-famous Brazilian designers Humberto and Fernando Campana also recently visited the Philippines as guests of Manila FAME and Design Week Philippines. They have always been drawn by the Philippine crafts. “The quantity of materials you have and the way you manipulate them are fantastic. This is important on a global scale because crafts are slowly coming back,” said Humberto Campana. 

 

Fernando added “What you have here is perfect, as the world reacquires a taste for more labor-intensive production processes and techniques.” 

 

For more information about Manila FAME, visit the website or email infor@manilafame.com.ph. Press release from Manila FAME