Filipino designers to highlight natural materials in Dubai
Manila Standard
10 August 2019
Lifestyle products crafted from natural and eco-sustainable materials will be the focus of this year’s Philippine participation at Index Dubai—the biggest design event in the Middle East and North African region, which opens on Sept. 17 to 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates.
Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with the Export Marketing Bureau and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai, the participation will feature seven companies from different lifestyle sectors: furniture and furnishings, home décor and fashion accessories.
“This participation will bring to the forefront the resourcefulness and ingenuity of our skilled Filipino craftsmen and designers,” said DTI-Citem executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan. “Through their intricate and innovative pieces, these exhibitors will help elevate Philippine design in both the Middle Eastern and the global markets.”
Frog shell and brass camel by Arden Classics
The seven companies will feature their latest creations that promote world-class craftsmanship made with locally sourced, eco-sustainable or repurposed materials like old fabrics, driftwood pieces, natural seashells from non-endangered species and other reusable objects that are typically considered as “waste,” to emphasize that responsible sourcing is an integral aspect of the Philippine design industry.
Exhibiting under the Philippine participation are companies that include James Doran-Webb and Furniture Doctor. Both use raw and re-engineered driftwood to create original and functional furniture pieces.
Another furniture exhibitor, Coast Pacific, perfectly balances the use of natural and synthetic materials in developing new weaving patterns and enhancing traditional techniques for their product line. Joining these furniture companies in Dubai are two fashion accessory brands: traditional jeweler, Kit Silver; and minaudière maker Mele + Marie. Rounding off the list are home décor and accessory companies Arden Classic with their blend of natural seashells and metalworks that depict the magnificence of nature and Bon-Ace with their home accessories made with all-natural materials designed with Filipino and Italian influences.
After doubling its sales target in last year’s edition with $2.77 million, the Philippines is now eyeing to generate $2.9 million in export sales for this year’s show.
Citem is partnering with the Export Marketing Bureau to achieve optimum results for this year’s participation, with DTI-EMB organizing business-matching activities during the show proper.
12 Miss Universe 2018 Candidates Wore Gowns by Filipino Designers to the Prelims
Yanna Lopez
Preview PH | 14 December 2018
Pinoy pride!
Filipino fashion talent shone at the Miss Universe 2018 preliminaries night, held just yesterday, December 13, in Bangkok, Thailand. The glittering evening saw seven beauties from all across the globe wear evening gowns by some of our most talented designers! Talk about world-class style. Check 'em out right here.
But of course! Our very own Miss Philippines Catriona Gray had jaws dropping as she strutted in an opulent Ibong Adarna-inspired creation by Mak Tumang. Of the sparkling, flame-hued frock, Catriona said, "This makes it a fitting symbol of resilience, rising, and rebirth." Gorgeous and symbolic.
Remember when Miss Canada Marta Magdalena Stepien flew all the way to Dubai to walk Michael Cinco's latest runway? Well, she was also there to personally pick up the figure-skimming gold evening gown he made for her! She looked positively regal.
Miss Ecuador Virginia Limongi definitely made the right choice when she donned this tasteful, elegant Mark Bumgarner piece. What a goddess.
We love how Miss Japan Yuumi Kato veered away from the usual beauty queen glitz in a classic, understated Joel Escober ballgown in a faint, delicate color of a petal's blush. A timeless look in our book.
Here's Miss Kenya Wabaiya Kariuki looking absolutely ethereal while floating down the stage in flowing white Jian Lasala. A sheer, shimmering dream!
Our favorite thing about the gossamer dress House of Bea Bianca spun for Miss Nepal Manita Devkota is that pleasantly surprising touch of swingin' fringe!
Iloilo-based designer Sidney Eculla created a halter-necked gown in fiery, feathered scarlet that Miss New Zealand Estelle Curd totally, completely owned.
Joey Galonspun a Swarovski-embellished dream for Miss Belize Jenelli Fraser. No better way to show off those stems that with a ski-high slit!
Living for this cheerful color pop! Miss Guam Athena McNinch wore a bright marigold Paolo Blanco number.
We never knew green could look this good. Watch Miss Malta Francesca Mifsud glide in emerald Ivanka Hipolito.
Can you hear our chrome hearts throbbing? Benj Leguiab IV swathed Miss Nicaragua Adriana Paniagua in stunning silver. The long sleeves are an elegant touch.
Miss Cambodia Rern Sinat was a vision in red clad in sparkling Rian Fernandez!
PH furniture takes world stage Tessa Prieto-Valdez Philippine Daily Inquirer| Lifestyle 08 December 2018
Philippine furniture design has evolved in the last three decades. From the traditional resort-style giant bamboo sofas and dining chairs, newer furniture pieces have transformed into more contemporary and fluid lines.
Mejore’s Makati retail showroom comes with a complete line of home furniture as well as carefully curated decors, accessories, lamps, painting and rugs.
World-class designs executed with materials indigenous to our country have made our local furniture pieces a sensation in the international market. Filipino flair means combining the artistry of the Filipino craftsman with the unique tensile and flexible quality of local materials like bamboo and rattan.
Cebu furniture designers like Vito Selma and Kenneth Cobonpue have been pushing the boundaries of traditional styles. Through the decades, they have created and refined their signature style, such that their designs are now recognized in the international furniture industry.
One of Selma’s most popular works is the Cara-Boo, a Filipino take on the classic child’s rocking horse. It features a carabao tied to a handy storage box, an idea that stemmed from Selma’s carefree days as a child. Today, the globally recognized artist is looking for more ways to innovate his signature aesthetic. He works with both local and international businesses to create experimental furniture pieces that truly stand out.
Mejore vows to continue its innovative approach to its products to cater to the needs of the market.
Cebuano Kenneth Cobonpue was dubbed by Time magazine as “rattan’s first virtuoso” back in 2007. His world-class designs have attracted prominent clients from around the world, including members of the royal family and Hollywood stars like Ocean’s 11 actor Brad Pitt. Cobonpue has also earned a number of international accolades. He continues to create his signature designs using materials native to the Philippines like bamboo and carbon fiber.
For the past three decades, Mejore Woodworks has seen the transformation of Philippine furniture design. Through the years, it has developed a team of skilled craftsmen and engineers in the art of furniture making. The company prides itself in maintaining consistency in quality and its innovative approach in developing unique products.
After several years of hiatus in the retail market, Mejore, the beloved furniture company of the ’80s and ’90s, quietly opened its Makati retail showroom in July 2017 with a home lifestyle concept store. The shop comes with a complete line of home furniture as well as carefully curated decors, accessories, lamps, painting and rugs.
All the furniture items in the store are proudly manufactured in the Philippines by the company’s team of in-house craftsmen and engineers who have mastered woodworking and furniture making for more than three decades. Mejore also prides itself in sourcing local materials and incorporating traditional Filipino woven design patterns that make use of rattan, abaca and raffia, among others.
With its re-entry in the retail industry, Mejore vows to continue its innovative approach to its products to cater to the needs of the market. It recently launched the Nathalie collection, a small line of furniture that reflects a departure from the more traditional and elaborately finished furniture it was once known for. The Valeria Sofabed, for example, is a streamlined and elegant-looking two-seater sofa that transforms into a queen-sized bed. The design is a direct response to the changing market preference for sleeker looking furniture that can fit into smaller spaces. Similarly, the Leonor daybed, evokes a timeless design that draws elements from traditional Filipino weaving techniques, but incorporating a more contemporary look with its elegant curves.
As Mejore’s retail business picks-up from where it left off several years ago, the company looks back to the time when Jose Ong and his daughter-in-law Nathalie founded the company in 1983. At that time, with over 20 years of supplying raw materials to the wood industry, they dreamed of not only supplying wood but also creating unique products that that can be appreciated and enjoyed by homeowners.
In its early days, the company forged several partnerships with US-based companies to manufacture and export its products to renowned companies such as Lane Venture, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Habersham and EJ Victor.
Its subsequent absence from the retail scene in the past decade however allowed itself to continue to hone its craft by servicing the local contract market, snagging big projects with clients such as Amanpulo, Henan Resorts, The Lind Boracay and Somerset Alabang.
Today, Mejore is managed and operated by third-generation owners, Claire and Lorraine Ong, sisters working in tandem to keep their family’s legacy alive. As such, while the designs and aesthetics of the furniture pieces may have evolved, Mejore’s heritage for creating export-quality and luxurious pieces remains part of each of the item in its product portfolio.
