Genteelhome founder Katrina Blanca de Leon proudly announced “Bigkis”, a landmark furniture collection set to debut at Maison&Objet Paris 2025.
De Leon, in a briefing with members of the Pampanga Press Club, said that “Bigkis” – drawn from the Filipino word for “ties” or “bonds” – celebrates how design connects people, places, and ideas by transforming material, process, and intention into a shared cultural narrative.
“Bigkis is about creating spaces that reflect the warmth and togetherness at the heart every Filipino home. It celebrates the family and the way our living spaces become the backdrop for shared stories and bonds. But we hope our Bigkis showcase sparks adeeper interest and appreciation for Filipino design—not just abroad but also among our fellow countrymen,” de Leon said. “This is about showing the world that Southeast Asia’s creative voice is rich, diverse, and worth listening to.”
The showcase, she said, brings together five acclaimed Southeast Asian designers: Eggarat Wongchar from Thailand, Keat Ong from Singapore, Lai Siew Hong from Malaysia, Kezia Karin from Indonesia, and Ivy Almario from the Philippines — with Genteelhome’s master Filipino artisans.
Together, they present a textured landscape of cultural connection built on craft, trust, and collaboration, De Leon said.
At the heart of Bigkis is Filipino craftsmanship as both platform and perspective: Local hands shaping regional voices. Wood, fiber, metal, and glass become carriers of meaning transformed through traditions refined over generations.
This collaboration unites the texture languages, and colors of Southeast Asia through shared techniques and sensibilities, adding
depth and continuity to each designer’s contribution.
Each designer brings a distinctive vision to the collection:
● Eggarat Wongcharit blends Thai and Filipino materials such as nipa thatch and tinalak, creating globally adaptable pieces.
● Keat Ong merges Eastern craftsmanship with Western campaign furniture, championing transformable and sustainable design.
● Lai Siew Hong crafts poetic expressions of togetherness using woven rope and timber interlocks.
● Kezia Karin reinterprets Indonesian jewelry motifs into furniture accents rich in cultural detail.
● Ivy Almario delivers functional art that reflects Filipino identity with a contemporary pop-art energy.
Designed by Milan-based Filipino architect Michael Vincent Uy, the Genteelhome booth at Maison&Objet will mirror the richness of the Philippine archipelago with flowing walls thatgather diverse Southeast Asian voices into a harmonious whole. The collection, shaped byartisan hands, offers furniture that feels like home wherever in the world it resides.
Beyond being a furniture line, Bigkis is a statement of Southeast Asian representation, powered by Genteelhome, and an invitation to see the region’s craftsmanship on the global stage.
For more information, visit www.genteelhome.ph or follow @genteelhome on Instagram and Facebook.
