At least 250 exhibitors are participating in the Manila FAME, which will return to trade show floor in October this year since the pandemic as the most anticipated international sourcing event in Asia for home, furnishings, and lifestyle pieces.
In a statement Monday, July 17, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said the 71ST edition is slated on October 19-21 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. CITEM is the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The highly anticipated international sourcing event supports and showcases Philippine Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), seasoned and emerging designers, and local artisan communities in the Philippines. The event is organized by Market Days, Manila FAME’s digital counterpart.
CITEM Executive Director Edward Fereira said Manila FAME is set to showcase more than 250 exhibitors offering a wide range of products including furniture, home décor, lamps and lighting, fashion, festive and seasonal decor, gifts, and beauty and wellness from various artisanal communities in the Philippines.
For its returning edition since the pandemic, Manila FAME 2023 will carry the theme “Feel what’s possible.”
Fereira underscored the importance of catering to the needs of the people who flock to the agency’s signature show for the home, fashion, and lifestyle sectors.
“Manila FAME attracts a diverse set of audiences—new and returning international buyers, established and upcoming design brands, design aficionados and students, industry experts, and even local fans of the show. We want to give them a show that reflects new ideas, fresh takes, and unique executions—in short, possibilities—rooted in Filipino heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation. And since we’re going back onsite, they will surely ‘feel’ all these on the ground, face-to-face after three years,” said Fereira.
This year’s Design Commune, a highly-curated scenography of new products under CITEM’s product development program, is set to launch collections from FAME companies created in collaboration with design specialists Rita Nazareno, Gabriel Lichauco, and Tony Gonzales, together with the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP). It is an integral and highly anticipated show feature which fosters innovation among local artisans and manufacturers to scale their product offerings and cater to the demands of the global market.
CITEM is also taking this year’s edition of Manila FAME to the next level by integrating a solid “online-offline-online” experience, giving participants a seamless customer journey between the physical show and its digital platform. Through fameplus.com, the digital sourcing platform of FAME, local and international trade buyers can discover upcoming and established brands, read feature stories, and connect with local artisans and manufacturers all year round.
Manila FAME 2023, according to Dr. Fereira, will also have “new exhibitions, show components, and special events that underscore the various parts of the multifaceted and ever-evolving Filipino craftsmanship.”
Manila FAME prides itself as a cohesive program for local MSMEs that offers various capacity-building efforts, collaborations with international design figures, and networking activities with buyers from around the world.
The 2023 edition is organized in partnership with RLC Residences and the Philippine Airlines as the official carrier of Manila FAME.
For 40 years, CITEM has established the country’s image as a premier destination for quality export products and services. It continues to set the highest standards of creativity, excellence and innovation to achieve competitiveness in the home, fashion, lifestyle, food, creative, and sustainability sectors.
FAME is a community of brands, designers, and manufacturers that showcase quality artisanal products in signature trade show Manila FAME, on digital platform FAME+, and in trade fairs and B2B initiatives around the world. The FAME community likewise includes global buyers and other stakeholders.