Kenneth Cobonpue teams up with travel essentials brand Tumi

An award-winning Filipino furniture designer and manufacturer is partnering with an international travel essentials brand to bring his creations to the rest of the world. 

 

In a Facebook post, Kenneth Cobonpue announced that he has collaborated with US-based Tumi Inc. 

 

"We are revealing a teaser of our collaboration with Tumi, the brand known for world-class business and travel essentials. To honor this partnership, our creative director adds a personal touch to this metal plate," he said.  

 

 

Cobonpue, however, did not give details on the collaboration. 

 

Tumi is a New Jersey-based manufacturer of bags that feature a metal plate that carry a unique 20-digit registration number to help owners trace their luggage in case of loss. 

 

This partnership is not the first time that the Cebu-based designer has showcased his works in the international spotlight. 

 

His clientele includes Hollywood celebrities like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who ordered his "Voyage Bed" chair for their son Maddox. The same design appeared on Maroon 5's music video of "Never Gonna Leave this Bed." 

 

He has also earned awards from Japan, Singapore, the US, and France. His work has been featured in various international magazines, television shows, films, and design shows. 

 

A graduate of industrial design from New York's Pratt Institute, Cobonpue mainly works with materials easily found in the Philippines: rattan, buri, and abaca. — Trisha Macas/JDS, GMA News