Filipino furniture, homeware and lifestyle products are finding a receptive market overseas, and the numbers from two major European trade shows this year offer a glimpse of that demand.
At Maison & Objet in Paris in January, the DESIGNPhilippines pavilion generated $3.55 million in export sales and negotiations involving 581 international buyers, a 76-percent increase from the previous year.
Six weeks later, the Philippine delegation recorded another $7.01 million at Ambiente in Frankfurt, bringing the combined total from the two events to more than $10.56 million in the first quarter of 2026. Buyers came from markets including France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Among the materials drawing interest are abaca, rattan, piña and other natural fibers that Filipino makers have adapted for contemporary furniture, furnishings and lifestyle products.
Many of the techniques behind them remain closely associated with artisan communities in provinces such as Bohol, Aklan, Tarlac and Isabela.
That international momentum provides the backdrop for Manila FAME 2026, which returns for its 74th edition from October 15 to 17 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City.
Around 400 Philippine manufacturers and brands are expected to participate in the country’s flagship export trade show for home, fashion and lifestyle products. A Media Preview will be held on October 14, a day before the trade show opens.
This year’s theme, “Bloom,” builds on 2025’s “Objects of Nature.” While the previous edition explored organic forms and biomimicry, the 2026 show puts greater emphasis on the artisan communities behind the products and their capacity to grow alongside changing international markets.
That direction also reflects a broader shift in consumer tastes.
Global trend forecaster WGSN has identified what it calls “Witherwill,” a post-digital mindset marked by a desire to pull away from constant digital stimulation and seek objects and experiences associated with calm and restoration.
Against the rise of AI, automation and mass production, handmade products can offer something distinctly human: a recognizable maker, material, technique and place of origin.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important as well. According to CITEM, European retail and hospitality buyers are incorporating factors such as sustainability certifications, ethical sourcing and artisanal provenance into procurement requirements.
For Filipino manufacturers already working with natural materials and responsible production practices, those requirements could become an important part of competing internationally.
Manila FAME will put those capabilities on display through several product development programs.
Under Design Commune, designer Tony Gonzales has worked with 20 companies to develop 90 new prototypes in home décor and lighting.
Furniture and interior designer Milo Naval, meanwhile, leads Home at FAME, which will introduce 40 new furniture and lighting pieces from 10 established exhibitors.
The Artisans Village brings the focus to regional producers. Fifty enterprises from around the country are involved in developing more than 100 new designs.
Designer and trend forecaster Patti Carpenter and designer Emma Gutierrez have mentored participating brands from Bohol, Aklan and Tarlac, while Rachelle Dagnalan is leading eight Isabela companies in developing 24 new prototypes.
The provinces also showcase different Philippine materials and craft traditions.
Bohol brings natural-fiber weaving, while Aklan is represented by piña textiles and heritage loom work. Tarlac contributes woodcraft and upcycled artisanal accents, while Isabela works with sustainable timber, bamboo and agro-industrial fibers.
Running alongside Manila FAME at the Philippine Trade Training Center is the Sustainability Solutions Exchange (SSX), a CITEM initiative focused on circular-economy strategies, green technologies and sustainable business practices.
The program includes a conference, exhibition and startup pitch competition, adding a business and technology component to the sustainability discussion surrounding Philippine exports.
Qualified international trade buyers attending Manila FAME will have access to a program that includes complimentary hotel accommodation, airport transfers, shuttle services, business matching and on-site assistance.
The trade show will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from October 15 to 17, while the October 14 Media Preview will give media, designers, students and other invited guests an early look at featured collections and installations.
First held in 1983, Manila FAME is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in partnership with PHILEXPORT and the Design Center of the Philippines. It is affiliated with the Union des Foires Internationales, or UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry.
For Manila FAME’s 74th edition, the opportunity is straightforward: international buyers have already shown an appetite for Filipino-made products in Paris and Frankfurt.
In October, hundreds of the makers behind those products will be gathered under one roof in Manila.