Movement 8 goes to Cologne

Heralding the country’s design ingenuity at the International Furniture Fair Cologne 2002 in Cologne, Germany last January was Movement 8, the design group spearheaded by Budji Layug, who started Movement 8 with former CITEM executive director Ely Pinto-Mansor a couple of years ago.

Completing the Movement 8 ensemble were Luisa Robinson (Accessoria); Ann Pamintuan (The Gilded Expressions); Kenneth Cobonpue (Interior Crafts of the Islands); Tes Pasola (Mind Masters Inc.); Milo and Kat Naval (Evolve Designs); Renato Vidal (Binhi Crafts); and Al Caronan (TN Philippines).

As usual, the Philippine booth oozed with ooomph and panache. A further proof is that business inquiries received reached 1,279. It seemed as if the Movement 8 members talked nonstop for seven days, addressing questions and inquiries not just from foreign buyers, but from visitors and the media as well. The Cologne Fair is a non-accessories show, but the Philippine booth was so well put together that the furnishings utilized enhanced the total look of the booth. No wonder the booth was visited by a lot of architects and interior designers!

Soon, Movement 8 products will no longer be limited to just being available during international shows. Ariane’H of Dusseldorf, Germany will be carrying the group’s chic furniture and furnishings starting this year. This company will also cover inquiries in Northern Europe. As for Southern Europe, Beatriz Roxas of Kawayan will take care of business.

Of the products on show, it was Kenneth’s cocoon bed that generated a lot of interest. Another popular selection was the "Baja" chair of Milo with its natural bakbak finish. Many were amazed at how the chair was so simple and seamless in design!

Based on the response to the country’s showcase, there seems to be a move toward carving a niche in the avant-garde sector. For most, the curious fusion of natural and Philippine fibers into modern furniture and accessory pieces is almost synonymous to modern living, but in a more natural setting. Sort of like "Back to nature meets the sleek and streamlined 21st century."

Many were also intrigued with Luisa’s mix of resin and other natural materials. Picture this: a vase made of seagrass laminated in resin. Al’s experimentation with aluminum also got its share of ooohs and aaaahs. And Ann’s now-famous wire collection was stylized further with capiz shell inlay.

Many commented that the Philippine booth was most appealing because the display actually demonstrated how each piece would look inside a house. Budji has successfully demonstrated the wisdom behind a sophisticated approach to merchandising. To this day, his concept of a living area still generates the desired response from buyers. As he explained in a previous interview, he is meticulous about putting together furniture and furnishings that complement each other in color, shape and other elements.

The Philippine booth also got its share of international media attention. The good news is that, thanks to its consistent presence in other foreign shows, Movement 8 has become known as a brand rather than merely products in the Philippine booth. According to Dutch TV, "The Filipino design is the one we should look forward to for this year. They got the taste of the world market and they are in the business of design and quality." Panama Fotoproduktion from Wallpaper magazine also took photos of Kenneth’s cocoon bed. Stephan Communications interviewed Luisa Robinson and Budji Layug.

In a nutshell, the Philippine participation in the International Furniture Fair in Cologne was another celebration of good old Pinoy creativity.