Philippine Designs Take on Paris: PH Embassy Promotes Creative Industries
Philippine brands participated in the pop-up event under the partnership of PTIC-Paris and Ithemba Design Ethik.
PARIS 31 July 2024 – With the support of the Philippine Embassy in France, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Paris successfully launched a pop-up event featuring Philippine designs at Ithemba Design Ethik at Viaduc des Arts in the 12th district of Paris on 23 July 2024. “Ithemba” is the Zulu word for “hope”.
During the exclusive event graced by Philippine Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West and Philippine Embassy officials, 10 Philippine-based brands were featured alongside international handicrafts. It highlighted the creativity and savoir-faire of Filipino designers while drawing attention to the rich cultural heritage, unique designs, ethical crafting, and sustainable materials of the Philippines.
Commercial Counsellor Rosa Katrina Banzon welcomed guests to the soft launching and thanked the Embassy and attending guests for their enthusiastic support for the Filipino brands showcased, some of which had several pieces sold out.
The success of the event in Paris’ creative hub Viaduc des Arts indicates a promising opportunity for Philippine designs to take the spotlight in Paris, the world’s fashion capital.
Philippine Design in Paris: A Pop-Up at Ithemba runs from 16 July to 15 October 2024. The following are the participating brands:
Quiddity. Quiddity is for the modern explorer. Each piece is reliable, conscientiously made, and perfect for those who value high-quality craftsmanship.
Anmari & Co. Anmari & Co. is backed by more than 20 years of experience and boasts of well-experienced craftsmen in molded bag manufacturing as well as other bag designs using locally sourced materials.
Pinas Sadya. From the innovative Kimono Ponchos to handwoven jackets, all are designed to get compliments and start conversations about Philippine heritage. Stories about the products, the makers, and materials make the purchase special.
Lily. Lily produces jewelry pieces that start conversations. The designs are deeply rooted in Filipino culture and nostalgia. Influenced by the experiences of Stella, the founder, Lily also creates pieces that narrate her life’s journey to womanhood and motherhood.
HeyJow. Heyjow pieces show a consistent thread of elegance, spontaneity, and uniqueness, counter-balanced with practicality and versatility. The brand prides itself in designing unique but versatile pieces to accompany any occasion — in a boardroom meeting, at the beach, at a wedding, or a casual date.
MJORIAN. Mjorian is a Filipino luxury jewelry brand that specializes in brass and silver dipped in gold and highlighted by gemstones.
VESTI. VESTI is one of the industry’s altruistic bag enterprises that promote cultural heritage and craftsmanship while implementing sustainable business practices. Promoting the different indigenous crafts from Mindanao and different parts of the Philippines, VESTI provides livelihood, innovation and creativity.
Style Isle. The brand takes inspiration from the Philippine islands’ diversity, artistry, and history and shows the skill of Filipino artisans.
AMAMI. Amami celebrates the centuries-old jewelry traditions of the Philippines, from pre-Hispanic heritage jewelry to modern designs, merged into contemporary thinking and culture. AMAMI creations showcase the art of the filigree, an indigenous technique where fine metal threads are expertly twisted and molded to form beautiful, intricate designs.
Farah Abu. Farah Abu began modestly in 2003 with handmade bracelets and soon evolved into a renowned design house celebrated across the Philippines and beyond. Farah Abu’s distinctive aesthetic blends boldness with sophistication, showcased through a diverse range of earrings, clutches, necklaces, and more. END
The Philippine Embassy in Paris supports the PTIC initiative to bring Philippine creative industries to Paris.
Commercial Counsellor Banzon welcomed guests to the soft launch of PH design pop-up at Ithemba.
Ithemba Design Ethik owners Amine Trabelsi (right) and Carine Khalil (left) discuss the pop-up model with Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West (center) as they feature design brands from the Philippines, alongside products from Indonesia, Tunisia, and others.
Visit the Philippine Design pop-up at Ithemba Design Ethik at Viaduc des Arts in the 12th district which runs until 15 October 2024.
For more information, visit https://www.parispe.dfa.gov.ph, http://www.facebook.com/PHinFrance, https://twitter.com/PHinFrance or https://www.instagram.com/phinfrance/.