Four established manufacturers and an upcoming designer from different regions in the Philippines will highlight Philippine craft in the April 2016 edition of Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan to be presented by the Center for International Trade and Exhibitions (CITEM) under the theme Alchemy.
Kristel Blancas Bahandi
Every material crafted from each industry showcases not just Filipino ingenuity but narratives of the creators seen in the details of their products that are veritable works of art. “The Philippines is in a historical moment, and it can take off by setting the fundamentals in a proper way. To do so, I need to look at not only the future but also where it comes from. It’s good to check our history and path to understand where we stand right now,” shares Carlo Cordaro, Italian-born owner of Atelier from Cebu, and a regular participant at the Salone Internazionaledel Mobile.
Atelier sideboard
Carlo creates a marriage of the old and the new to his furniture designs that are almost reminiscent of the retro era, but done in classically designed colors using wood as the primary material and incorporating palm to add texture to the furniture. “I want to establish the beauty of natural materials which when combined with techniques and skills, meet the benchmarks of good design,” says Carlo.
Maze Cala high chair with pillow
Another participant whose works are almost masterpieces of art when worn or displayed at home is the maker of Zacarias, designer Rita Nazareno who is also creative director of the family-owned business, S.C. Vizcarra handicraft factory. Her designs highlight the use of wicker and her pieces embodies the brand’s forward thinking thrust when it comes to the design. While staying true with the traditional wicker manufacturing, her products exude contemporary bold designs.
Maze chair
In another part of the Philippines, Maze president Judith Maranang heralds creations from Pampanga where crafts such as woodcarving, metalwork and weaving thrive. Maze showcases products that are rich in heritage yet apt for the modern times especially with its contemporary use of details in its design. The company’s collection for Salone Internazionale Del Mobile will also feature a sustainable material, Permacane, a unique, patented rattan multi-layer lamination and cladding technology developed by Eduardo Yrezabal, who forged an exclusive partnership with Maze for Permacane’s use in furniture and décor pieces.
Another Pampanga homegrown brand will showcase its design for the trade – A. Garcia Crafts. Since 1989, the company has become a leading home sector brand catering to mainly buyers from the US and local clients. For this year, Alex Garcia and his son, Andy, see the fair as a good avenue to create more exposure for their brand. They’ve prepared a series of outdoor furniture made from metal and plastic.
The youngest exhibitor of the batch is CITEM’s Red Box awardee, Kit Blancas, a magna cum laude graduate from the University of Santo Tomas who obtained a degree in Interior Design in 2011. Armed with acquired skills through her tenures at Manila’s prestigious design houses and garnered praise for her commitment to advocacies such as sustainable practice and heritage preservation, as well as recognition for her interior and product design projects, Kit is set to woo the trade with resin-based creations.
Alchemy will be displayed at Pavilion 12 Stand F08 this April at Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan.
