Six local companies and designers bagged trophies in the recently concluded KATHA Awards during the 63rd edition of the Manila FAME held on 21 April 2016 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.
Schema, formerly a Christmas decor company, wins the Best Product Design for Furniture award for their Schema console table designed by the owner herself Ms. Celia Jiao. Inspired by modern architectural design, the console table features an equally-angled design that creates a negative space in between, discarding the need for braces or support.
Vito Selma bags the Best Product Design for Home Decor. The award-winning floor lamp stands with the statement that no two lights are the same no matter how similar. Selma has always been adamant in his focus on the natural, and this is exuded in his Henesius floor lamp design.
Joanique gets the Best Product for Fashion award for their Adlaw necklace and Buwana clutch of the Maskara Collection. Inspired by the colorful Masskara Festival in Bacolod City, designer Malou Romero patterned the sun- and moon-shaped winning products after the masks and faces that are prominently featured in the said festival.
Casa Mercedes’ ladies fans are recognized as the Best Product for Holiday Decor and Gifts for this edition’s KATHA Awards. Designer Monchet Olives incorporated Filipino expressions, and images depicting Philippine current events in his designs.
Ito Kish took home two awards–the Best Booth and Special Citation for Eco-Design Award.The Ito Kish booth breathed organic and natural with their presentation through the use of bamboo and rattan in their new product designs. The Binhi, which won the Eco-Design Award, culled inspiration from the seed itself. Using the form of a seed, “Binhi” speaks volumes of possibilities that can go with it, and eventually grow into something beautiful.
The Katha Awards has been distinguished as a hallmark of Philippine product design excellence and innovation. It gives distinction to ingenious designs, and encourages exporters and designers to constantly create and develop original designs for furniture, home décor and furnishings, holiday décor and gifts, and fashion complements relevant in the global market.
