Milan – April 22, 2013 – Filipino world-class artistry and craftsmanship under the unified brand of "Design Philippines" took the global spotlight at the Euroluce International Lighting Exhibition held on 9-14 April 2013 in Milan, Italy.
At Euroluce, the global benchmark for the lighting industry, Design Philippines presents 100% design and craftsmanship, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), brings together six of the Philippine’s best manufacturers and taps renowned designers Antonio “Budji” Layug and Kenneth Cobonpue displayed their innovatively designed lamps and other lighting fixtures, complemented with home furniture and decors in the first-ever country pavilion at this major lighting exhibition and lead the participation.
Participating companies include Kenneth Cobonpue’s HIVE, Industria, Mayumi by CSM Philippines, Schema by Kalikasan Crafts, Tadeco Home by Tadeco Inc., and Triboa Bay Living by Vivere Lifestyles Co.
Tadeco Home creates lamps and home accents made of abaca and banana fibers intricately woven by skilled artisans using traditional techniques, bringing the past into the present. Tadeco Home has evolved from a community development program of Tagum Agricultural Development Co. Inc., a banana exporter in Philippines. It sources all its raw materials from its own plantation.
Hive is a collective of designers and artisans producing lighting and home accessories under the creative direction of Kenneth Cobonpue and management of Celso Advincula Jr. Using innovative handmade production techniques and organic materials, the design house comes up with new collections every year from various designers around the globe.
Industria romanticizes steel, tempers it to evoke lightness, grace and sophistication in its design. The company, whose creations bring fantasy to form and function, was borne out of the creative collaboration of Jude Tiotuico and Eric Paras. The result is a delightful and deceptively whimsical collection of furniture, exuding elegance by its scale, form and creative manipulation of materials.
Mayumi (by CSM Philippines, Inc.) is committed to creating exquisite objects made of fine bone china. All of our products are made by hand, skillfully crafted by artisans who, with years of experience and expertise, are passionate about maintaining its characteristic of quiet beauty and elegance. By using porcelain clay and recycled animal bone ash, Mayumi’s bone china is delicate, luminous, and exceptionally strong, all the qualities of genuine fine bone china.
Triboa Bay Living is a lifestyle brand that marries tradition with a pared-down contemporary sensibility. Wood is ingeniously transformed into elegant lighting and furniture pieces that evoke a warm, casual and resort-like ambience. With some pieces counterpointed in steel components in industrial forms, its design ranges from rectilinear and modern to traditional French and English country. Triboa Bay Living’s products are sold to resort contractors, furniture retailers and interior decorators from Europe, Africa, Australia, South America, and Asia.
Schema by Kalikasan crafts, uses metal wire as its only medium, the transformation process for each product is done by hand, resulting in distinct lines formed with the highest level of artisanship.
The "Design Philippines" pavilion attracted visitors and buyers from Italy and other countries from Europe, North America and Asia. The display also drew the attention of the local and foreign media, with interviews by fashion and design magazines like Marie Claire and Interni.
The Philippine pavilion also offered buyers and visitors a glimpse of Manila F.A.M.E. (Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers' Exchange) International, the country’s bi-annual trade show organized by CITEM.
Close to 300,000 visitors from more than 140 countries were reported to have participated at Euroluce 2013, which also was held side by side with the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in the same fair grounds in Milan. (sources: www.philcongenmilan.net – www.citem.gov.ph)
