How did you get into furniture?

I was practically born into it. My mother had a furniture workshop in our backyard, where her craftsmen would teach me how to build my own toys. I would show them to my mom and she’d be really happy. So that’s where it started. That’s when I knew I wanted to create things that would put a smile on people’s faces for the rest of my life.

“But the one inspiration that has a recurring role in my narrative is nature. It surprises us with forms and colors that are naturally beautiful.”

How would you describe your aesthetic?I work hard to avoid being boxed in a personal aesthetic, because design is a living process. I design according to my taste and what excites my senses, which evolves along with what inspires me. But the one inspiration that has a recurring role in my narrative is nature. It surprises us with forms and colors that are naturally beautiful.

What is your design process when it comes to creating a piece of furniture? What do you think about?

Paper and pencil are two essentials in my office that I can’t go without. I visualize the form in my mind and sketch it on paper. Design is a fluid process, but my team and I usually work with materials first and create concepts around them. We’re quite old school, so we work with prototypes early on using paper mock-ups and clay molds, and the like. Since our manufacturing process is handmade, our design process is also handmade.

Do you have certain collections? What inspired them?Do you mean favorites? I’m not sure I can choose; it’s like picking a favorite child. Each of my designs is very personal to me. We have our timeless icons that are difficult to replicate like the fabric manipulation of Bloom inspired by a flower blossom, the simplicity of Yoda inspired by the elegance of tall grass and the Jedi Master himself, and the form of La Luna.

How do you go about putting a space together?

First thing to consider are the client’s requirements, what the mood they’d want their space to evoke, and then we go from there.

“Our designs have that special human touch that is weaved into them and is part of the story.”

How does furniture dictate a person’s environment?

Furniture fills out space and gives it substance. It guides your movement and interaction with your space, and is an expression of your personal style. Your furniture selection can say so much about you.

How do colors and texture play into a setting?

Color and texture combinations give life to a space and affect your psyche. For instance, putting a wooden dining table against a classic blue wall gives warmth to the calming space. It’s a fun balancing act that could have different results.

How do you differentiate your brand from your competitors?

KENNETHCOBONPUE is the first international all-Filipino furniture label that’s design-centered and nature-inspired. We pride ourselves in promoting culture and heritage by preserving and utilizing traditional craftsmanship, and natural materials. Our designs have that special human touch that is weaved into them and is part of the story. We have our own manufacturing arm and a complete set of departments that design, market, and sell our products.

“World-class Filipino craftmanship, but also beyond that is joy.”

How did you break into the international market?

The one that introduced me to the global market was Movement 8, a group of Filipino designers put together by the late Ely Pinto, director of CITEM and Budji Layug, to showcase the best of Filipino design to the world. I was part of that group and we went around the world in all the major exhibitions waving the Filipino flag and introducing our country’s brand of home design. The second opportunity that really got things started would have to be when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought a few of our collections. The rest is history.

How do you stay competitive?

I do my best to keep myself updated with the trends so that we don’t fall behind. However, I do not sacrifice my personal taste for what is trendy. Like Yves Saint Laurent said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” I don’t want to solely rely on what’s going on in the rest of the world, so I make an effort to look for inspiration and strive to do something different every time.

Any advice you would give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Learn about the business side of things and love what you do. Put people at the heart of your every endeavor. Be influenced by the ones that came first, and then create your own influence by staying true to yourself. Never stop learning.

Is there anything else you’d like to share? Any exciting projects or awards you’d like to share?

We’ve been working with carbon fiber and rattan lately. Right now, I’m helping to design BRT stations, collaborating on a shoe design for ladies, working on a boutique hotel, and a lot of sketching at home for new designs of furniture and lighting.

“I do my best to keep myself updated with the trends so that we don’t fall behind. However, I do not sacrifice my personal taste for what is trendy.”

What challenges do you face?

Like I always say, the everyday challenge is to change the perception that luxury can also mean made in Asia, not just in Europe. I think we’re getting there. Apart from that, the recent challenge that has risen is the big possibility of a shortage of craftsmen, because their children are not interested in continuing the tradition anymore.