For my first blog entry, I’ll be sharing with you 5 lighting brands from both local (PH) and international designers. What amazes me from these products is how creative each designer was and how each product had its own story to tell.

Michael Anastaddiases x FLOS

Michael Anastaddiases collaborated with FLOS lighting in creating a collection that centers around his most recent obsession, the sphere. The designers sees the sphere as the “ultimate primal form” and this is event with its repetition seen in his collaborative collection. “Everyone can relate to it- it’s a very familiar form. [...] That sense of familiarity comes from people being comfortable with it,” he says in his interview.

The story behind Copycat is definitely my favorite: like a baby always wanting to mimic a parent. There is that relationship there of what is precious to the big sphere, and the smaller sphere wanting to be like it is actually glowing.

The sphere is a shape that is most commonly used for lighting. Michael Anastaddiases challenges this by creating simple yet unique pieces with the use of the sphere lamps and gold accents.

IC LIGHTS C/W L - 416mm x W - 316mm / Light - 300mm diameter

IC LIGHT S Height - 482mm / Light - 200mm diameter

COPYCAT Big lamp - 11.8" diameter / small - 3.5" diameter - height 11.9"

MARSET lamps are known to be refined and contemporary. The main characteristics of this collection are its authentic feel, meaningful simplicity and decorative yet restrained visual approach.

I personally like FollowMe for its playfulness and functionality. Since it has a built-in battery, one can bring it anywhere. Marset’s pieces are also very simple with their use of materials. The white color of the lamps are complimented with simple materials such as wood, glass, and metal.

FollowMe Lamp by Inma Bermudez 12.3dia x 28.8cmh Rocking opal diffuser, white matte polycarbonate body, Plywood handle with oak veneer

FollowMe is a table lamp that can be taken wherever you go. The oak handle beckons you to pick it up. It has a built-in battery and also a USB port for recharging.

Mercer Lamp by Joan Gaspar and Javier M. Borras 17.32"D X 6"H; 6.93" overall height Cotton, Glass

Theia 43.1cm height, 32cm diameter light Aluminium, iron, metal, methacrylate, synthetic material

Theia was inspired by the Greek goddess of the sun, the moon, and dawn.  This design seeks to express the beauty of light and the fascination we feel for it. Theia has two faces: to discover them, simply swivel the fixture around its central axis. It can be pointed towards you for use as a reading lamp, or towards an object or a wall, creating a subtle, indirect light that immediately warms the atmosphere.

WASTBERG offers simple yet very functional lighting.

My favorite out of the three products is the w153 ile or the Clamp Lamp. A clamp attaches to the socket of an incandescent bulb and a cone shade sliding on the bulb to direct the light. This was inspired by the old Clamp Lamps the designer would have in their French home.

w162 Dalston is inspired by lamps found in workshops and warehouses. It offers a variety of colors for both its LED units and its shades that come in solid colors and glass.

Chipperfield is predominantly made from brass - a material commonly associated with lights, but is not widely used today. David Chipperfield creates a fresh interpretation of the archetypal desk lamp. It consists of the basic parts of a lamp from the base, a single arm, and a lamp head.

w153 île - Clamp Lamp Design: Inga Sempé 19w x 19d x 16cmh Aluminum Body With Steel Shade

w162 dalston Design: Sam Hecht and Kim Colin Small steel: 30dia x 15cmh Large steel: 37dia x 20cmh Glass: 26dia x 19cmh Die-cast aluminum Aluminium shade with reflector and diffuser

Chipperfield Height: 42.3cm x Width: 33.7cm Base diameter: 11cm Solid brass with adjustable shade

SELETTI is known for their eye-catching and unique products. I’ve personally seen their products at A-11 Furniture Gallery and their wide range of products are perfect for people of all ages. There were ceramic monkeys holding light bulbs, dinosaur-shaped cupcake holders, and even dinnerware inspired by the different planets. Seletti never ceases to amaze me with the ideas they bring out to the table.

Out of all Seletti’s lighting collections, I picked Egg of Columbus for the unique choice of material and how they perfectly shaped the pleats and the folds. They use recycled paper for the body which reminds me of egg cartons.

Egg of Columbus by Valentina Caretta of Fabrica Material: Recycled paper, ceramic lamp holder & fabric wire

#1: ø Cm.26.5 #2: ø cm 22.5 #3: ø Cm.35

Italian designer Valentina Carretta of Fabrica made these hanging lamps for Italian brand Seletti from coarse paper like the kind used in egg boxes. Valentina Carretta of design studio Fabrica's Egg of Columbus lamps come in three sizes and combine a shade made of moisture-resistant recycled paper with a ceramic lamp holder and a red fabric cord. 

The lamp's name refers to the story of how explorer Christopher Columbus challenged his detractors to make an egg stand on its tip. When they gave up, he did it himself by tapping the egg on a table to flatten its tip, demonstrating how a brilliant idea can seem easy once you know how it's done. (from Dezeen)

SPEKTACULARIS was also one of the brands I encountered during my trip to A-11 Furniture Gallery in Manila. This brand was established by Stephanie Frondoso, Lucie Cerna and Jana Minolova - a mixture of designers from Czech Republic and the Philippines. Spektacularis brought 3 designers from the Philippines to the Czech glassmaking region for their first collaboration in studio glass. Spektacularis selected Stanley Ruiz, Gabriel Lichauco and Lilianna Manahan to be the pioneers.

Bling King & Queen

by Gabriel Lichauco x Jiri Pacinek, Filip Houdek, Josef Hlavenka Stained glass, metal, light 70cm diameter, adjustable height

From the name itself, these pieces scream elegance and sophistication with its details. The colors of the stained glass creates a beautiful ombre effect. Seeing these two in real life left me in awe for the photos don’t give justice to how it looks like in person.

Circus by Gabriel Lichauco x Jiri Pacinek Handblown glass, wood, metal 26 x 26 x 60cm

This piece was one of my favorites during our visit. It reminded me of the plastic balloons I used to buy from the sari-sari store when I was younger. I love how detailed it is and how it looks very realistic. My only critique for this piece is how it only comes in one hand-painted print. I hope they offer it in solid colors as well.

♡ Overall, these brands offer lighting products that are unique in their own ways. Being able to study about them and learn about the stories behind them taught me how each piece is carefully thought about by the designers. As an Interior Design student who strives to create pieces such as the ones mentioned above, I realized that each piece that I make should show even the smallest hint of myself on it.