Must: Quality, design and profitability

ANILA FAME is getting bigger and better.

MOn March 14, the country’s premier design and lifestyle event will carry the theme “Beyond Artisanship” as it consolidates the various designdriven sectors with the fashion industry.

Spearheaded by the international fashion icon Josie Natori, Manila Fame aims to showcase the treasure trove of talent here in the Philippines. Natori will be joined by a ‘dream team’ composed of the country’s top and up-and-coming fashion designers. Rajo Laurel, Inno Sotto and JC Buendia will be among the designers who will pitch in their ideas.

Manila Fame targets to exceed its contribution of $194.68 million to the total Philippine merchandise exports in 2010.

Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, aims to introduce the Philippines as a premier design destination in Asia by bringing together four worldclass event brands: Manila FAME, Manila Now, Cebu Next and Bijoux Cebu.

Rosvi Gaetos, executive director of Citem, says that Manila Fame is all about design and quality but it should always be profitable.

She says “that by the integration of the brands, we will be able to unify the industry and bring back the design to what it was before and bring it to the next level.”

She adds that FAME’S October 2011 show has led to a 97 percent increase in foreign buyers. She explains that the increase means that these buyers are in need of a market that will sell directly to them and Manila Fame provides the venue for the trade.

“Manila FAME also gives exporters more room for negotiations. Markets are price-sensitive and so we offer them flexibility with our cheap products with better quality, to mediumpriced ones to the ultra-high price. But it’s not all about the price, it’s