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Exploring New Design Trends at Manila FAME

By For Urban Women
Design trends have always been ambivalent in nature, remaining unusually predictable and uncertain with every shift. As easily as they come, a trend emerges and seeps its way across the design branches effectively dictating the product selection and overall demand in the market.

I’ve been attending Manila FAME, the country’s premier lifestyle and design event here in the Philippines, since 2014 where I’ve witness first-hand all the breath-taking designs and creativeness of the Filipinos, and this season as they celebrate its 66th remarkable edition Manila FAME is here to present us more spectacular designs I’ve ever seen before.

One of the highlights is the Design Commune, were they features items from more than sixty (60) micro, small and medium enterprises – MSME across the country, which presented four (4) market-oriented themes based on the orthodox trends: Greens, Blues and Whites, Ethic Nomad, and Naturals.

We are the country that comprises 7,000+ islands, and this designs perfectly suits the occasion.

THE GREENS

Not all of us was born in this city jungle, and honestly there are times that I miss the simple rural life.

But adding some items that will remind me of my childhood at home helps to uplift my spirit every day, and always reminds me the fun that we had.

Green reminds me of freshly picked vegetables in my Mom’s backyard, the morning dews, my neighbour’s humble farm were we used to camp under the mango tree while enjoying our local version of brunch but instead of champagne, we enjoyed the homemade freshly brewed coffee.

Aside from green also meant abundance and prosperity, it also reminds me of my childhood hobby – gardening. In grade school, Mrs. Parlade taught us how to cultivate soil for gardening, how to properly pick the stems for replanting, the do’s and don’ts of creating natural fertilizers, and even how to create a natural support for baby plants to protect them from the strong winds. I also learned how to be creative in using natural and unused materials as my pots!

Its fresh and glowing appeal makes Green a perfect touch in addition to our urban lifestyle. And since it is indeed a struggle to do gardening in your condo, thus urban gardening is the new “It”.

We become creative by building greenhouses on our rooftops, grow our favorite kitchen herbs in small pots, cactuses, and succulents in our houses and even in our offices.

From home and office furniture, decors and accessories both from indoor and outdoor – green will always have the fresh appeal.

THE BLUES & WHITES

For me, blues and whites are very inspiring and motivating. It reminds me of a perfect summer island vacation, or maybe lusting about going to Santorini. But then, we can always make our home and spaces look “vacation-ready” by adding some touch of blues and whites for our home decors and furniture, and even in our pristine kitchen!

If carpeting is not an option for our spaces, we can use these wall hanging papers drapes made of organic pulp.

These shade also reminds me of our rich deep Philippine sea and white sands, or the early Chinese dynasty’s porcelains that are so precious we always want to have it.

THE ETHNIC NOMADS

Another mainstream trend, the Ethnic Nomads is also a driving force in both design, lifestyle and fashion industry. Influenced by the people who loves to travel and seek adventures from various remote lands, This trend depicts rich culture and strong traditions, which I wish to experience and learn by me first-hand.

Visiting the rich Igorot tribe, and experience the ceremonial ritual while dancing around the campfire, wearing a piece of their traditional fabric, is one of best still waiting in my bucket list.

And do you know that each painted designs have special and powerful meanings?

Each colors symbolizes meanings, and also each weave symbolizes strength. These things could also be known when you listen to the locals’ folks stories.

THE NATURALS

As the saying goes, “..we will always come back to nature” is always true.

Yes we love the buzzing city life, all those crazy lights at night, and how cool the technology that we have for our daily convenience, both at home and office.

Yet, nothing is more relaxing and more peaceful than going natural. Being natural makes you free – free from any doubts, your thoughts, and your dreams.

Would it be nice to have fresh flowers around?

This section also reminds me to stay grounded and be humble at all times. Every weave symbolizes strength and togetherness of the people, and how the simple life makes it more fruitful holistically.

Being a nature-lover per se, I find that presentation of the Design Commune is one of the best that I’ve seen for years. It combines all the crafts and items made by our Filipino collaborators from various islands of the country, and proudly speaks their story through aesthetics.

Headed by the internationally renowned designer Tony Gonzalez, together with the top designers supporting the product development stages, such as Tes Pasola, Detlef Klatt, Stanley Ruiz, Wataru Sakuma, Conrad de Leon, Leo Sano, and Reine Shih, were among the Filipino designers who took part in Design Commune.

Products from A. Garcia Crafts, Asia Ceramics, Celestial Arts, Inc., Finali Furniture and Home Accessories, Kit Silver, Nature’s Legacy Eximport, and Prado Filipino Artisans among others in this boutique-style setting from this season’s Manila FAME.