40 PH enterprises showcase design products in Ambiente

By Aly Dela Peña

 

DESIGNPhilippines, the country’s banner representing Filipino home, fashion, and lifestyle products at premier trade shows and business-to-business platforms globally, joins European trade fair Ambiente for the seventh time, boasting its biggest contingent of 40 enterprises, majority of which come from two partner artisan communities: the provinces of Antique and Quirino.

Happening on January 26-30, 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany, Ambiente is the world's largest international consumer-goods fair. Last year, the show attracted more than 4,500 exhibitors and around 154,000 trade visitors. DESIGNPhilippines has been participating in Ambiente since 2016, showcasing fine furniture and crafts from Filipino manufacturers and brands.

Related: PH to showcase products in EU-based consumer goods fair

A champion of Filipino products, Philippine Senator Loren Legarda shows her full support for this year’s Ambiente delegation. “The country’s participation in international fairs reflects the resilience of our rich culture; celebrates our identity as Filipinos; and showcases our cultural treasures not only to the local community but to the global stage," Legarda said.

She added that global sourcing shows such as Ambiente "play a vital role in strengthening our cultural heritage and boosting tourism and trade in the country, driving it towards progress and sustainable development."

For Ambiente 2024, DESIGNPhilippines brings the theme Hues and Heritage. Originating from Design Commune, a culminating showcase of CITEM’s product development program in the Manila FAME trade show, the theme presents vibrant hues that upscale traditional artistry through clean lines, minimalism, and modern silhouettes and textures. The Philippine Pavilion in Ambiente will exhibit the simplistic flair of natural materials paired with the modern-classic color blue.

Curated by renowned Filipino designer Tony Gonzales, Hues and Heritage is divided into two colorways: Naturals and White and Blues on Blue. Both feature products that range from home decor, tables and chairs, to larger-than-life lighting fixtures.

Gonzales said that the colorways were chosen because of their commercial viability in the international mainstream market. He also shared that his design ethos for this collection considered the brands’ stories, the community artisans they work with, and their production capacity in breathing life to the products.

Read Next: Filipino design authorities share what to expect in Manila FAME's Design Commune

Get to know the enterprises and brands under DESIGNPhilippines joining this year’s Ambiente.

 

Home Decor

 

33 POINT 3 EXPORTS

This Lampakanay Basket from 33 Point 3 Exports features leather handles for an aesthetic yet sturdy addition to the functional decor. The company has been in the business of exceptionally weaving an array of products, including furniture and home decor, for over three decades.

 

NATURE'S LEGACY

This table is handmade from high-grade polymer, a material innovation that lends luxurious refinement to any setting. Its mirror-like finish becomes an eye-catching conversation piece, seamlessly fluid and compact all at once.

 

CSM PHILIPPINES

Made of bone china, the Pod Vase from CSM Philippines has a delicate ribbed shape, intricately handcrafted through slip-casting. Coming in white, this accent piece makes it versatile for any living space.

 

WEAVEMANILA

The handwoven rugs, made from abaca fiber, feature various weaving techniques that give a tropical personality to any space. Weavemanila continues to expand its designs by integrating geometric patterns, artsy graphics, and amazing textures to its products.

 

LARONE

This spacious structured basket is simple, minimalist, and functional. Larone Artisans is a Filipino brand that creates handwoven products using sustainable and natural plant fibers.

 

CONTEMPORANEO

Excess wood and end-cuts make up these decorative fruit bowls. Contemporaneo champions sustainability by making use of discarded wood chips to create various furniture and home decor.

 

Furniture

CONTEMPO DESIGNS

This tabletop gives off a tropical flair and sophisticated finish. Contempo specializes in the production and export of high-end wood, rattan, wicker, and abaca pieces.

 

AEROSTONE

This highly durable accent piece can fit indoor or outdoor settings. Aerostone works with the latest technology in reconstituted stone to create a unique range of classic and contemporary items.

MORE THAN A CHAIR

This vanity duo presents natural woven wonders built on contemporary inspiration and generation-old craftsmanship and traditions.

 

SOUTH SEA VENEER

Combining form and function, this storage cabinet has a pebbled texture, finished with contrasting wood details and gold knobs. South Sea Veneer specializes in manufacturing technology of hand-marquetry and veneer inlay. The company creates home items and furniture using wood veneer, coco shells, bamboo, banana bark, and other natural materials.

JIREH FORGE

Clean lines and simple shapes make up this wrought-iron chair and side table from Jireh Forge. The brand creates contemporary all-metal furniture woven with synthetic materials, for indoor and outdoor furnishings.

TAHANAN FURNITURE

Delve into the exquisite craftsmanship of the Alon Cabinet, a contemporary storage piece that gives a touch of sophistication. Tahanan Furniture marries culture and traditional craftsmanship by using natural materials and applying sustainable practices.

 

Lamps and Lighting

TADECO HOME

The Udon Hanging Lamp, inspired by Japanese noodles, is intricately manipulated into a three-layered fixture. This ethereal piece from Tadeco Home is made of T’nalak fabric from fine abaca fibers woven by T'boli weavers.

LIJA BY THAT ONE PIECE

The Macaroni Chandelier is an unfettered delight with a dash of fantasy. LIJA by That One Piece is a contemporary lighting and furniture brand that highlights the creative use of natural materials, refined into distinctive, stellar designs.

 

Holiday Decor

FREDEN EXPORT

A seasoned holiday decor company in the Philippines, Freden Exports creates timeless ornaments, home decor, and even planters. Since its inception in 1970, it has offered proudly Filipino made products to its growing local and international clients.

ART N NATURE

Art N Nature creates simple yet elegant home decor using indigenous materials such as seashells and coconut husk.

ALBERTINA

This glowing wreath is meticulously handmade by Filipino artisans. The rustic vibe of the piece makes it a cozy addition to the holiday celebration. Established in the 1980s, Albertina is a well-known Philippine manufacturer and exporter of ornaments.

JALIKEE

Rustic and elegant, these tabletop holiday pieces lend a different touch to the usual and glittery decorations. Jalikee offers a variety of tin, paper and wood products made by skilled experts in artisanal craftsmanship from Paete, Laguna–home to some of the Philippines’ best woodcarvers.

KLASSY COLLECTIONS

From ornaments, nativity sets, wall decor, and tabletop furnishings, Klassy Collections creates an array of holiday decor, making it one of the leading exporters of handcrafted Christmas and all-season gift items in the Philippines. The company uses sustainably-sourced and indigenous materials such as the abaca and buri fiber.

Visit the Philippine Pavilion in Ambiente at Hall 10.4 Stands B42 and B72 Messe Frankfurt GmbH Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60326 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. For more information, read more about Ambiente here.

Photo banner: Nature’s Legacy