The Philippine design and craftsmanship will once again wow the world as eight local companies in fashion, furniture, and furnishings sectors join the Maison & Objet on Sept. 7-11.
Maison & Objet is considered the international authority for home décor, interior design, architecture, and lifestyle culture. Its home décor fair connects the international interior design and the lifestyle community.
This year’s five-day trade fair is happening at the Parc des Expositions, Paris-Nord Villepinte, France.
The Philippine exhibitors at Maison & Objet are Basket & Weaves (planters and other furnishings), Cagayan de Oro Handmade Paper (lamps and novelty items in handmade paper), Chanalli (table top items), Finali (furniture), L’auras Y Levi, Inc. (home accessories), Tadeco (home accessories), Tali Handmade (fashionable bags), and WeaveManila, Inc. (abaca rugs and carpets).
The Department of Trade and Industry – Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions organized the companies’ participation as part of its mandate to promote Philippine exports to the world market.
According to CITEM, the participating companies manifest the uniqueness of Philippine design sensitivity—one that marries form and function practically in an unlimited number of ways.
The Philippine pavilion at Maison & Objet, CITEM said, will capture the adaptability of Philippine design in any environment—modern, chic, flamboyant, classical, bare, zen, classic, elegant, etc.—in accordance to the creative direction theme “Philippine design as we live it.”
Curated by Tes Pasola, it will echo the country’s reputation as a source of boutique concepts.
According to Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora Terrado, the country’s continued presence in major design fairs, such as Maison & Objet, is necessary to reach the interior and design players and markets in Europe.
In 2017, the country’s participation in Maison generated USD 2.5 million in export sales.
“We are not going to compete in the mass market as far as our fashion, furniture, and furnishings sectors are concerned. With our wealth of raw materials plus design talent that we have, we are definitely for the high-end market,” emphasizes Terrado.
Through the years, CITEM has been solidifying the country’s reputation as a preferred sourcing destination for finely crafted products for the world market.
In fact, Design Philippines, the industry brand for the creative sector, captures Filipino designers’ distinct design genius. It is the current marketing program that focuses on the creativity, originality, and globally competitiveness of designs by Filipino artists and craftsmen.
