Written by Ying Chia
It’s not just another expo — that’s my first thought as we hop off the shuttle bus at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Manila, and enter the venue of Manila FAME. The country’s foremost home, lifestyle and design trade show, FAME is an institution to up and coming Filipino designers and brands; a home where creatives could gather and see where the direction of the design and interiors industry is heading. But I digress. Based on the amount of people, video cameras and photographers swarming the entrance on the first day, it’s clear that this is more than just your average fair.
As the longest running trade show run by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), many have been coming to FAME for years. The event has sized down according to officials, from the considerably larger size that used to encompass at last a football field’s size more of vendors across more locations. Launched in 1983, it is the second-longest running trade event on houseware, furnishings, gift items, holiday decor, and fashion accessories in the Asia-Pacific Region, and is the only show in the Philippines recognised by the Union des Foires Internationales, the union of the world’s leading tradeshow organisers, fairground owners, and major national and international associations of the exhibitions industry.
With over 5,000 visitors (trade and non-trade) and over USD4 million in export sales generated in 2024 — up a whopping 49% from the year before, the Manila FAME event for 2025 was like the finale of an opera. Soaring vibratos and arias in the form of world class designs and participation from industry stalwharts like renowned Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Conbonpue, US-based creative director and Global Trends Ambassador Patti Carpenter; a retrospective of veteran designer, Milo Naval, including works done in collaboration with 10 local manufacturers. Walking around is an exercise in restraint lest you exit with an empty wallet and full phone memory! There is truly so much to see and the sentiment of the design works being world-class, is spot on. Artful pieces by Studio MOODISM wouldn’t look out of place in a Berlin office, or modern Paris loft. The whimsical Willy Wonka atmosphere at the Design Center of the Philippines’ institutional booth was a fresh exposition from 18 MSMEs under the creative direction of Tony Gonzales.
Part of what makes the event so seamless, is staying at one of the partner hotels for the event, like The Admiral Hotel M Gallery which sits on the bustling Roxas Boulevard, a rich land with history and heritage. Design and art breathes here, as does the heart of Filipino hospitality. The luxury 5-star boutique hotel which is part of the Accor group of hotels, was designed to evoke Manila’s Golden Age with both classic and contemporary Filipino-Spanish design and architectural elements that have been reinterpreted into contemporary aesthetics. The elegant and unique centerpiece of the Admiral’s Club restaurant, for example, boasts a showstopping stone table -walkway that acts as a centerpiece for the room, yet the venue retains a charming atmosphere that is welcoming to all (as evidenced by the number of guests ranging from tourists to local families coming together for a big brunch. There’s even a dog in the pet-friendly premises). Rooms are decadently decorated with a mix of art deco accents and modern amenities like a very welcome Nespresso machine with takeout cups, and media console. Worries about special food requirements? The Admiral is one step ahead; buffet options include identifying markers that show information like dishes contain common allergens, or pork, for those needing to observe Islamic dietary requirements. Very thoughtful, indeed.
