Philippine manufacturers of furniture and home decor are participating in the ongoing global digital trade fair Maison & Objet and More (MOM) in Paris, France, as they showcase and promote Filipino craft and artisanship amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Themed “Bubble Living”, their virtual participation at the fair until Sept. 18 references the “feeling of being cooped up inside a bubble” as people stay at home due to the pandemic.

Bubble Living features pieces that enhance and address the way people live now that they are being stuck indoors. These pieces highlight techniques such as weaving, wood carving, and metalwork but are given new twists.

“M&O’s virtual presentation remains to be a great opportunity for bringing Filipino design talent and craftsmanship to an even wider global audience, outside the confines of its usual Paris venue,” the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said.

On top of curatorial duties are Gabby Lichauco and Rita Nazareno, acclaimed designers on their own and the creative duo behind Kindred, a design collective that first made waves at Maison et Objet 2019.

This year, they worked with the participating companies to enhance their current collections and create or reinvent products to respond to current needs and changing lifestyles.

Thirteen exhibitor brands are showing their collections before a vast global audience under the Design Philippines banner, eight of them are members of Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT).

PHILEXPORT members participating in the prestigious online design event are E. Murio Inc., Finali Furniture & Home Accessories Co., Indigenous Peoples of Esperanza Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (INPEFARMPCO), Nature’s Legacy Eximport, Inc., Prado Filipino Artisans, Inc., P&B Valises Et Compagnie, Inc., Weavemanila, Inc., and Venzon Lighting Manufacturing.

The MOM digital platform helps professionals in decor, design, and lifestyle to source new products and contact new suppliers.