At the 73rd edition of Manila Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers’ Exchange (FAME), exhibitor and globally renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue spearheaded the production of Design Commune with fellow pioneering members of Movement 8 veterans Tony Gonzales and Milo Naval.

Known for transforming natural and Filipino materials into functional lifestyle products, Cobonpue’s artistic designs blend modernity with traditional craft, primarily using natural fibers and materials such as rattan, abaca, and buri palm. Thus, Manila FAME’s theme, “Objects of Nature,” comes second nature to Cobonpue, as he showcases product designs that integrate natural materials through innovative handmade production processes.

Aside from numerous international accolades, his creations, such as the Bloom and Yoda chairs, have achieved iconic status in pop culture. In 2007, the industrial designer and manufacturer was called “rattan’s first virtuoso” by Time magazine.

“Nature has always been a source of inspiration for me since the beginning. Everything is there in nature: the form, the aesthetics, and the structure. It's just an endless source of inspiration,” said Cobonpue.

At Manila FAME 2025, guests can expect a range of classic and statement pieces, as well as a new collection featuring lighting, indoor and outdoor furniture, and home accessories. “We will preview them at the trade show before bringing them to Milan and New York,” he added.

Cobonpue has a long and significant history with Manila Fame, the country’s premier home, fashion, and lifestyle trade show, as a pioneering exhibitor and a key figure in promoting Filipino design internationally. He considers the trade show a testing ground for Filipino creativity and artistry, where he exhibits and even debuts his designs. “I think it's the only trade fair where you see the best of everything from fashion to furniture to lighting to accessories. It is the only exhibition that has an excellent pulse of what's going on in the Filipino design industry.”

He credits his rise to international recognition with Movement 8, a group of distinguished Filipino designers formed by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This ensemble used Manila FAME and other trade shows to usher Filipino design onto the global stage.

To this day, the master designer continues to champion the Filipino brand by taking ownership of his designs and ensuring they are properly branded and labeled “Made in the Philippines.”

“Whenever I exhibit abroad, I'm always proud to say that I come from the Philippines, and I always try to present fresh and new ideas in the world of design.  However, it's not easy to convince people to buy from the Philippines, since our products are more expensive than those from other countries.  It is due to the quality of our work and labor, and we maintain very low production runs, unlike the mass production in China or Vietnam. The materials we use are natural; the processes are man-made, all of which are rooted in our culture. Our products are unique and sometimes even border on art, thus commanding a certain price.”

Aside from having a distinct market, Cobonpue has also identified other challenges in the industry. “Just like our farmers, our craftsmen are aging, and their kids would rather not work with their hands anymore. It's critical for designers like ourselves to enable the new generation of craftsmen to make a living from designs. I really believe that we should bring manufacturing back to the Philippines. We have become a country with a good service industry, but manufacturing is very important for any country to create opportunities.”

To boost the rank of young creatives, Cobonpue has also dedicated himself to education and mentorship. He founded the Industrial Design Program at the University of the Philippines–Cebu and served as Chairman of the Department of Industrial Design at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde.

“I mentor many designers every year. Most of my design staff are all young and fresh from school. So I train them, and when they leave my workshop, I encourage them to work with other manufacturers first, because there are a lot of manufacturers who need designers, and many of them are in Manila FAME.”

 Last year, Cobonpue was appointed as a member of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council under DTI, representing the private sector in the design domain, a natural progression of his expanding role in the industry.