Catriona Gray’s furniture celebrates Filipino artistry
What does it mean to own a piece of furniture designed by Catriona Gray? For the former Miss Universe, it’s a symbol of community and craftsmanship.
Catriona partnered with furniture brand Genteelhome to create the Payak Collection, their first outdoor line that showcases Filipino craftsmanship and the former beauty queen’s expressive design style.
The collaboration supports local artisans, with each piece made in Pampanga using durable materials such as teak wood, high-performance fabric, and lampakanay rope. Drawing from Filipino culture, the collection includes designs inspired by the Mayon Volcano and the Baro’t Saya
“It’s a piece to be proud of,” she told Manila Standard Life in an interview, pointing out that while she provided the concept, the real work was done by artisans in Pampanga.
“The execution and the material—it’s all created in Pampanga,” she adds. “When you own a piece of the collection, you’re putting money back into our community.”
Catriona’s personality comes through in the design. When asked what makes the collection distinctly hers, she points to “the colors and fun silhouettes.” While the brand is known for a more muted look, her contributions bring out a livelier, more expressive side that still fits within Genteelhome’s identity.
The process behind the collection was also a creative milestone for her. “It’s one thing to do just some little sketch and have a conversation and another to see the pieces really in front of you and see all the detail,” she shares. Bringing the designs to life felt rewarding. “I want to see other people be able to experience them, to touch them.”
It’s a rare moment where someone better known for public appearances and advocacy gets to express a different side of herself.
“I’m not known as a designer,” Catriona admits. “But design has been present in little ways throughout my whole journey, starting from jewelry to my eco bag last year. So this is my third installment in design, I would say. It’s been very fulfilling.”
With this latest project, she shows that her creative interests stretch far beyond the spotlight. There’s a quiet intention behind the collection—something more personal than promotional.
Rather than overpowering the brand’s original aesthetic, she builds on it, creating harmony between her vision and the company’s established tone.
“You’d see a lot of color in my pieces,” she says. “The brand is known for its muted colors, but mine is quite expressive. With this collaboration, we’re able to integrate the colors with the mindfulness of the brand’s signature.”
If she had the chance to expand the collection, Catriona already knows in what direction she’d go.
“I would probably design dining chairs and a table,” she shares. “In my own home, the dining table is such an anchor—when I have my family over, when my friends are over. All of our kwentuhan, our chika, and game night. All of those happen on the dining table with our food. So I really appreciate the value of a dining table.”
Under the leadership of principal designer and CEO Katrina Blanca De Leon, Genteelhome, a Pampanga-based furniture brand, has positioned itself as a champion of artisan-made, functional pieces that are also artistically expressive.
The Genteelhome x Catriona Gray Payak Collection brings together her passion for art and advocacy. Long before becoming Miss Universe, Catriona was already exploring artistic expression. With this furniture line, she gets to merge that creativity with cultural storytelling.
The Mayon Lounge Chair pays tribute to the lava flows of Mayon Volcano, with pink and orange tones inspired by childhood memories in Bicol. The Pinay Accent Chair mimics the sleeves of the Baro’t Saya and integrates solihiya weave. The Balik Tanaw Side Table uses teak wood and glass to capture light and memory, while the Beh & She Side Tables represent friendship through contrasting shapes. The Kapit-Bisig Shelving Unit, with its colored abaca weave and vertical teak frames, ties tradition into contemporary design.
“With this collection, we are redefining luxury outdoor living by combining artistry with purpose,” said De Leon. “Collaborating with Catriona Gray, an advocate for culture and craftsmanship, has allowed us to create a collection that truly embodies what Genteelhome stands for—elegance, sustainability, and the soul of Filipino artistry.”