8 Pinoy Furniture Designers
We Want to Collab with IKEA
By Tynne De Leon
What started out as a rumor last year is finally coming true: IKEA is coming to the Philippines (and our inner “tita” is squealing!).
From small to eccentric concepts, there’s so much about the brand that makes people’s lives easier without sacrificing beauty or art.
With this incredible news, we can’t help but wonder if our own local designers may want to be a part of such a brand’s momentous entrance into a new market. While the brand has done a lot of collaborations before, we would be very much thrilled to see our Filipino designers getting the spotlight!
And so, here are 8 on our collab wish list, something to tease our little Pinoy hearts.
8. Budji Layug
Considered a pillar in the interior design industry, Budji Layug’s extraordinary craftsmanship is recognized all over the world. His international presence is credited to his nationalistic designs, with bamboo as one of his main mediums. From designing furniture to directing exhibitions, we definitely would want to see more of his globally-acclaimed crafts turned into gorgeous IKEA products!
7. Milo Naval
One-of-a-kind best describes the work of Milo Naval, as his furnishings include using recycled products—literally creating world-class furniture from scratch. Being an environmentalist himself, he is also Sorsogon’s tourism consultant. His works have won him many accolades, and have been showcased at international exhibitions, including the Salone in Milan, IMM-Cologne, Valencia in Spain, Maison et Objet in Paris and ICFF in New York.
6. Jude Tiotuico
Jude specializes in accent pieces, with his craftsmanship creating an impeccable brand of unique—the Industria Home. His main medium is steel, metal sheets and ceramics, definitely “a fancy mix between industrial and classical-modern.” His works are featured in different exhibitions, including the Manila Fame and the Milan International Fair.
5. Eric Paras
When it comes to local, interior designs, Eric Paras is already a household name. His works show a mixture of vintage and modern, a style IKEA can definitely explore. He does decors and furniture and curates them into one shop—the A-11 at Pasay City. With his ability to package his midcentury modern works into one big showroom, this guy definitely has much to offer.
4. Ito Kish
A self-proclaimed chef and visual storyteller, Ito Kish is definitely living up to his title with the wide array of unique works he has crafted, each one telling its own story. His works are made from a pure cultural point-of-view, leaning towards the Spanish colonial aesthetic, stemming from the original culture our country still has. His love for the Filipino tradition is his inspiration, making his works resonate close to our hearts. With IKEA finally coming to our shores, this is precisely the bit of Pinoy taste that they’ll need.
3. Wilmer Lopez
A great standard of contemporary Scandinavian and Asian design, the IKEA catalogue can benefit from the eastern flavour of Wilmer Lopez’ style. Hip and modernized, his designs capture the vibe of a trendy and colorful personality that titas’ at heart will surely love.
2. Vito Selma
The Wood Whisperer, as they call him, Vito Selma is a genius at wood art. His style can be a huge contribution to IKEA’s wood catalogue, as he breaks from tradition with his innovative furniture designs. He is quite experimental, and his out-of-the-box ideas expressed through wood make him really stand out.
1. Kenneth Cobonpue
Dubbed by TIME Magazine (2007) as “rattan’s first virtuoso,” Kenneth’s name resounds in world-class Southeast Asian design sought after by famous international celebrities. From catering to big, famed clientele, that includes royal families and Hollywood actors, (Brad FREAKING Pitt!) to designing the venue for the APEC welcome dinner, Kenneth has more than earned multiple, international accolades. His unique and innovative designs would match the simple, modern vibe of IKEA furniture, and to say the resulting collaboration will be perfect is an understatement.
Know other Pinoy designers who deserve the IKEA spotlight? Share them below!
