Manila FAME International sets global home, fashion concepts

MANILA, Philippines - Naturalist, Mood Indigo, and Graffiti are the key global trends for the home and fashion sectors underpinning the products, which will be featured in the 54th Manila FAME International, the country’s premier trade event for furniture, home, holiday decor, and fashion pieces.

Slated from Oct. 16 to 19 at the SMX Convention Center, the event is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“These globally responsive trends will define the marked difference in Manila FAME International this October,” says Rosvi C. Gaetos, executive director, CITEM.

“As the Philippines’ most relevant showcase of its design-driven sectors, introducing these distinct major trends to the market is a milestone that affirms Manila FAME’s foothold as the trendsetting design hub in Asia,” Gaetos adds.

US Merchandise Specialist Linda Simpson was tapped to assist Manila FAME exhibitors in creating export-ready products attuned to these trends. Simpson, president of Imagination Network, guides clients through all phases of product development.

“The Naturalist collection is an aesthetic rooted in the dramatic juxtaposition of natural versus the manufactured,” says Simpson.

“With signature icons that include butterflies, birds, faux bois (false wood), feathers, and leaves, it targets the environmentally aware consumer with materials such as feathers, driftwood, stones, linen, crystals, burlap, abaca, rattan, seagrass, capiz, coconut shell, and preserved flowers and foliage,” she said.

Mood Indigo is inspired by tribal ikats and the sea, targeting the recent interest in Moroccan, Balinese, and Indian designs.

”This collection pays homage to New Age spiritualism, handicrafts and nature,” said Simpson. “It has a lot of shells, sea glass, sea urchins, palm fronds, coral, Moroccan tiles, semi-precious stones and crystals, basketry, scrolls, fish scale and woven textures.”

Graffiti is an embodiment of the underground handicraft movement and an ode to the self-expressionist sentiments of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

“Rendered with bold colors, free form shapes, and journalistic writing, it is a very spontaneous and happy trend with a painterly feel,” she says.

Poppies, insects, birds, poetic and philosophical words, peace signs, and flea market finds figure prominently in this concept.

“With the theme ‘Weaving Dreams,’ Manila FAME International will be a richly textured experience of products and presentation for our trade visitors and buyers, with the distinct Philippine brand of design and craftsmanship woven into these three trends,” adds Gaetos.

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For inquiries, visit www.manilafame.com or email publicity@citem.com.ph.