Manila FAME, Manila, Philippines
Manila FAME stands as the Philippines’ most prestigious design and lifestyle event, uniting artistry, innovation, and sustainable craftsmanship under the curatorship of CITEM. Returning to its dynamic home at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, this October’s edition brought together an extraordinary constellation of makers, designers, and visionaries from across the region and beyond - each contributing to an atmosphere alive with creativity and purpose.
Amid the evocative and soulful energy of Manila FAME, ReCreativity by James Doran-Webb revealed a space that felt both grounded and ethereal: a quiet sanctuary where reclaimed materials and imagination found eloquent equilibrium. The display unfolded like a visual poem, with each piece conversing with the next in rhythm and contrast.
At its centre, the Botanica Bar embodied this dialogue - raw yet lyrical, its sculptural silhouette and organic textures revealing both strength and grace. Held in quiet conversation between the Kintsugi Console & Mirror and the Gravity Console & Mirror, it became the still point around which harmony unfolded. The consoles offered artisanal counterpoints, each one a meditation on proportion, stillness, and renewal; their contrast speaking not of opposition, but of unity - of the meeting of earth and light, material and meaning.
Suspended above, the Cab Caban Light offered an illuminated whisper of nature, its delicate bleached leaves diffusing a warm radiance that softened the space. In one corner, the statuesque Illa Vinea Light Towers rose with electric elegance, surrounded by living greenery that intertwined sculpture with life.
Anchoring the display, the Canopy Table commanded quiet reverence: molten-tin pathways glimmered across its surface like rivers of silver, while the mirror-polished wood reflected the forms and faces gathered around it. Resting upon a monumental tree root and encircled by six Charred Phoenix Chairs, the composition became a transformative symbol of endurance, renewal, and the timeless rhythm shared between nature and creation.
Across three remarkable days, James and his team welcomed a fluid stream of collectors, interior designers, hoteliers, and kindred artisans. Conversations flowed not as transactions, but as shared reflections: on process, patience, and the poetry within reclaimed material. From the careful salvaging of long-dead wood to the tempering of steel and tin, each story revealed a deeper understanding of what defines ReCreativity - integrity of material, honesty of making, and a belief that art and function can coexist in soulful unity.
We left Manila FAME 2025 deeply moved by the warmth of the people we met, the generosity of their curiosity, and the resonance of the discussions that lingered long after the lights dimmed. The event reaffirmed our commitment to creating work that honours both the hands that shape it and the spirit that inspires it; a continuing dialogue between material, maker, and meaning.
