9 artisanal furniture picks from Manila FAME’s Design Commune

In 1925, Segundina Cornejo Vizcarra opened a hand-embroidery studio. She pioneered exquisite needlework and served as an atelier for the elite until the 1980s. The business was eventually taken over by her daughter, Vicky Vizcarra Amalingan-Sales. 

Now, her granddaughter and Design Commune curator Rita Nazareno has a contemporary line called ZACARIAS1925 by S.C. Vizcarra. The brand features such items as the Max Drawers, a set of three hand-woven drawers with leather pulls, crafted by Filipino artisans. 

For over a decade, Rizal-based Art Meets Craft has created vibrant and functional pieces that add boldness to any space. Handcrafted and handpainted, their fibre-resin sculptures feature a high-gloss finish that would fit seamlessly into any indoor or outdoor setting. The unique pieces enhance any space with their bright colours and playful forms. 

Some of their products include the Ballerina Ladies and Ollie the Elephant Dancing sculptures, which would make whimsical additions to any home. 

From 1984 onwards, two generations of this family-run workshop have created fine furniture, cabinets, and home design accessories. They creatively use natural materials like tropical woods, fibre and grass weaves, rattan and bamboo. For accents to their work, they incorporate distinctive textures from metal, leather, and bone. 

Among their eye-catching offerings is the Rachis Side Table, which features geometric surfaces finished in graphite raffia. The table’s compelling design adds edge to any space. 

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Key to Shelmed Cottage Treasures’ philosophy is a deep involvement in every part of the design process. They celebrate the farmers who grow the natural fibres used in the products that their artisans and weavers form into their products. Over the past fifty years, they have created abaca products of different textures, colours, and functions. 

These include the braided placements that feature thoughtful details like floral designs and vibrant loop borders, adding a curious twist to any tablescape. 

This 48-year-old brand is known for its rare and intricate pieces, which take inspiration from various historical eras of design. Among their offerings for this year are the Philippe and Alcornoque mirrors, which are hand-carved by master craftsmen in Pampanga, the Philippines.

The contrast between the rich wood and the vibrant paint highlights its versatility, adding a contemporary spin to an otherwise classical piece. The mirrors are fully customisable, with varying options for colour, finish, and sizes. 

For Weavemanila, carpets and rugs can be as much of a statement piece as any painting on the wall. The brand brings traditional abaca rugs into the 21st century with their lively designs, pushing the boundaries of design with their geometric patterns, unique graphics and textural dimensions. 

Whether one is looking for a psychedelic piece like the Aurora Borealis rug or a more delicate Ylang-Ylang rug, Weavemanila has options to suit a wide range of tastes. 

With their fanciful lighting designs and unexpected forms, this award-winning brand has lighting that would make delightful additions to any dining table or living room. The brand has received a Katha Award for its innovations at previous iterations at Manila FAME. They have also won the G-Mark of the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organisation and have had products featured at the Maison d' Objet / mom and more digital editions and NY Now Digital Market 2021. 

Their products, which include the MACARONI Chandelier and the CARLEY O’S lamp, will be a conversation starter for family and friends.  

Showcasing an intimate connection to nature, Artisana Island Crafts creates ceramics interwoven with natural pandan fibres that grow on the nearby foothills of Mt. Kanla-on. Women artisans harvest, strip and dye the pandan leaves in their village before the baskets are enhanced with hand-painted ceramics. 

The results are tabletop accessories like placemats, coasters, napkin holders, bread baskets and more. One of their most compelling vases is the Manuglibud Vase, which features a person’s face topped with a woven accent. The elongation of the man’s features adds visual interest to any space, while the fibres highlight the artisans’ skill in weaving. 

Growing up, Jennifer Lo heard stories of her grandparents, both of whom had to weave rattan into chairs and baskets to make a living. Now, Jennifer is the third-generation owner of Larone Artisans/Habi Home, a group that creates home furnishings out of handwoven plant fibres. 

Their accent pillows, baskets and bags are biodegradable, making them the perfect selection for those balancing sustainability and style. 

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