The Philippines' biodiversity is unparalleled -- our islands overflow with many of the most beautiful indigenous materials in the world: rattan, raffia, bamboo, abaca, capiz, seagrass, mother of pearl, among a plethora of others. A textured nation, we truly are -- and this was showcased once again in the October 2011 edition of Manila FAME (Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers’ Exchange) International.

This biannual trade expo is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through CITEM, and for this year, with the help of international specialists Michael Cleghorn (Australia) and Linda Simpson (USA), they came up with the brand "Textured Nation", and the underlying theme, "Weaving Dreams." According to CITEM:

The new brand, Textured Nation, encompasses the diverse culture found in the Philippines which is reflected in Filipino design and ingenuity. Weaving Dreams, as the theme, depicts the Filipino cultures twining of ideas in design and craftsmanship to create masterpieces that transcend global presence.
New Features: Trend Stores, Creation Stations and Red Box

Inside the expo, which was held from October 16-19, 2011 at the SMX Convention Center, they featured three Trend Stores: Naturalist, Mood Indigo, and Graffiti.

A fresh addition to this year's expo were the Creation Stations, where our very own highly-skilled artisans held live demonstrations of how raw materials such as abaca, buri and capiz, are turned into actual products. Seeing the masters at work was one thing, but here, you could also ask them questions about their craft. I'm pretty sure both locals and foreigners alike found this set-up amazing!

Another new spectacle was The Red Box -- featuring a more different, slightly more avante-garde collaboration between EPOCH, Team Manila, and the Manila Fashion Group. I was so glad to see Manila FAME exploring more ideas and options outside of the usual fashion and furniture fare.

Manila FAME is always a great testimony to what the Philippines can offer to the world. But in the rapidly changing times, innovation is key: and this is one of the biggest challenges for the Philippine creative and export industry. I'm positive though that in time, we will not only be showcasing or following trends -- but setting them and staying ahead of the curve.

The next Manila FAME will be on March 2012. This October 2011 leg set the bar very high - but I have no doubt that it can only get better.

Photos from wanderrgirl.com, Manila FAME official website and the CITEM blog

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