61st Manila FAME gears up for a bigger show

Supporting the Philippines' position as a sourcing hub for creative and design-forward home and fashion products, Manila FAME 2015, organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), features anew selected furniture and home furnishings, holiday gifts and décor, and fashion accessories designed and crafted in the Philippines for the global market in its 61st edition on March 13-16, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

CITEM founded Manila FAME initially as an event that only showcased locally made products. Through the years, it grew to the level of producing not only an event, but stories - stories of exporters and manufacturers, nurtured and developed by CITEM through its various programs such as Design Philippines, Red Box and Manila Wear. These stories continued to grow in numbers, continuously translated into products which promoted the perfect combination of innovativeness, technology and soul.

"Besides strengthening and developing skills and competencies of homegrown artists from different sectors, Manila FAME assists local exporters and manufacturers in establishing partnerships, generating export opportunities, and finally penetrating the world's lucrative business markets," said CITEM Executive Director Rosvi C. Gaetos.

Design Philippines, the industry brand for furniture and home furnishings, is curated by a Creative Team composed of seasoned designers from various sectors, brought Manila

FAME to a higher level by taking exhibitors who embraced the brand building initiatives of CITEM, to participate in international trade fairs such as Salone in Milan, Italy and Maison 'd Objet in Paris, France.

Red Box is a program which develops aspiring designers to penetrate the market. One such story is a group of designers who named themselves Epoch, began as young, unknown designers of functional items for companies 4 years ago and are now successful manufacturers themselves. Their story, The Return of the Epoch, will be featured in a special setting aptly called " The Light & Shadow" lighting installation. Appropriately timed with the UN General

Assembly proclamation of 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015), it presents the collaboration of designers Stanley Ruiz, Wataru Sakuma, and Jinggoy Buensuceso with select companies to feature the growing sector of lamps and lighting.

Sure to draw fashion enthusiasts is Manila Wear, which will unveil Luxe fashion collections derived from a group of fashion designers who uses indigenous materials to create bespoke items. Manila Wear is a branding initiative which aims to position the Philippine fashion industry in the market.

Still aimed at promoting local exports in the world market, the Manila FAME

International Hall brings together under one roof exhibitors from different countries, tapping the international as well as the local markets. It provides a fresh sourcing venue for trade buyers from around the world who come regularly to Manila FAME.

Fortifying CITEM's commitment in upholding the global competitiveness of Philippine products, on the other hand, is the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program of the Bureau of Domestic Trade (BDT) of DTI, a priority project of the government to promote entrepreneurship and job creation in the country's various regions. This edition, OTOP manufacturers will team up with designers to showcase latest collections from different regions.

Katha Awards, the hallmark of Philippine design excellence, will open the 61st edition of Manila FAME through the recognition of companies whose product designs and

innovation combine the ideals of form and function. Katha Awards has sought to inspire and challenge Philippine exporters and designers to innovate and develop designs and products competitive and comparative to its counterparts in the world market.

For more information on Manila FAME, interested parties can visit www.manilafame.com or email manilafame@citem.com.ph.