Fil-German designer’s advice ‘Find leverage on custom-made furniture’

CEBU, Philippines - A New York-based designer sees the potential of Cebuanos to leverage on custom-made furniture to sustain the industry amid a dwindling market for mass produced furniture products.

Fil-German Erik Lopez, who has been practicing interior design in New York for the past 13 years, said “the talent here is amazing. This is the industry's unique leverage to fight the competition."

Lopez came to the Philippines for a special designing project in one of the posh resorts in Boracay. He said he fell in love with the creative pool of the Philippines, specifically in Cebu.

He said Cebu's furniture industry should shift to high-end furniture production, and work directly with clients by making furniture pieces personally desired by customers, not by mere trends or "what's in."

A graduate of Parsons School of Design College in New York City, Lopez said that there is a growing market in the world demanding for less mainstream designs, entering what designers call as "non-era."

The phenomenon is a shift from purchasing "off-the-rack" furniture or home furnishing pieces, to custom-made or personalized designs.

From an outsiders' point of view, Lopez believes that if Cebu will be able to sense the pulse of the furniture market in the world, there is no way that the industry will fall into the "sunset [industry]" category.

In fact, he said Cebu has a huge potential to well position itself in the customized furniture making business in the world.

"Collectively, the Philippines is a country of talented people. Filipinos in nature are creative," said Lopez in an interview with The Freeman.

Besides, he said before exploring the "new edge" furniture market segment in the world, Cebu's furniture industry has rich clientele within its home-ground.

Lopez insight is also confirmed by world renowned industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue who said that the expanding middle-class and market sophistication in the Philippines is helping the furniture industry sustain their operations amid the weak market interest especially from its traditional and major markets, the United States and Europe.

According to Cobonpue, aside from the strong institutional domestic demand from hotels, restaurants, resorts, malls, among others, the residential market is also coming in very strong.

Cobonpue said there is an increasing number of residential clients that are commissioning furniture companies to make personalized furniture or furnishing accents for their homes.

Cobonpue's company for instance is busy making custom-made furniture pieces to sophisticated residential clients in Manila and in Cebu. (FREEMAN)