When we talk about the local luxury furniture scene, it is hard not to think of Kenneth Cobonpue. With his keen eye for detail, passion for design, and knack for all the beautiful things that make Filipino culture ever so vibrant, the Cebuano industrial and furniture designer was able to make a brand that is now present in many continents and pieces that graced iconic music videos, movies, TV series, and the pages of international magazines, among others.
Kenneth Cobonpue
Pursuing a career in the design field was a natural step for Kenneth, whose mother was also a furniture designer. But that doesn't mean that his journey to success was easy. With people telling him that there was no money in design, he went on to study business. After doing that for two years, he flew to the US to learn more about design. He visited many places, such as Italy and Germany, and got inspired to build his own brand. He wanted to change the furniture industry where many of the designers are nameless and faceless by headlining his brand with his own name.
“When I came back from the U.S., I decided to do something different,” Kenneth said. “I chose to brand myself… This s a very risky proposition.”
According to Kenneth, his designs are made up of a few elements. First is nature. Think of the forest, it is beautiful as a whole but you can always see through it. With that in mind, he created pieces that not only complement a space with its color and silhouette but also don't block the view and allow light to pass through them. A perfect example of this is his 1998 collection, “Yin and Yang,” with pieces made of woven rattan, creating organic geometric lines. There are also more literal depictions of nature like his Sage pieces, the Yoda chair, and the famous Bloom chair
Yoda and Bloom chairs (Photos from kennethcobonpue.com)
Next is craft, which is all about Filipinos' works. Growing up in Cebu, Kenneth always saw fishermen working with nets and other tools. That inspired him to design pieces that echo fishing nets and traps like his “Lolah” collection. While the La Luna chair, touted as one of the most sustainable chairs on the planet, features two styles of weaving—simply celebrating Filipino craftsmen's distinct artistry.
La Luna chair and Lolah easy armchair (Photos from kennethcobonpue.com)
Last is culture, which is also centered on people. There’s the “Little People” collection, an ode to the Philippines' bayanihan spirit. Inspired by human anatomy is the “Pigalle” line. While the “Limbo” collection features grand human-shaped light fixtures made of handwoven Gossamer wires that go through illuminated hoops and hang on chandeliers, looking like they’re aerialists in mid-flight.
Limbo hoop and Little People round hanging lamp (Photos from kennethcobonpue.com)
This time, Kenneth continues his mission of putting Filipino artistry on the international stage with the launch of his newest collection. Much like his past works, the new collection dubbed "The Loop and Barnacle Mirrors" is also imbued with the abovementioned elements. It features two champion pieces. The first one is the Loop hanging lamp, a design made of steel and twisted cotton rope, capturing the essence of Filipino aesthetics with innovative techniques and materials. While the other one, the Barnacle hanging lamp, is an ode to “one of nature’s most beautiful random creations.” The translucent barnacle-like lamp is made of molded rice paper, making an eccentric silhouette and allowing the light to glow through the material in many ways.
Loop and Barnacle hanging lamps
The launch of "The Loop and Barnacle Mirrors" collection last July 12, 2023, at the designer's showroom at The Residences at Greenbelt in Makati City was in partnership with the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank), which granted Metrobank credit cardholders exclusive offers on Kenneth’s latest collection.
From left: Metrobank Credit Cards usage, portfolio management, and insurance strategies head Miko Beltran; Kenneth Cobonpue; Metrobank Credit Cards personal loans and digital channels head Gail Male; and Metrobank consumer business head Monj del Rosario.
“Opportunities to enjoy the best deals and offers are what we always strive to give our clients," said Ramon Jaime Del Rosario, Metrobank consumer business head. "With this exclusive offer of master designer Kenneth Cobonpue’s collection, they can bring home a piece or two of his latest collection of innovative pieces at special prices when they use their Metrobank credit card.”
To know more about Kenneth Cobonpue’s "The Loop and Barnacle Mirrors" collection, visit kennethcobonpue.com or @kennethcobonpue on Instagram.