42
/
TEXT
KISSA CASTAÑEDA
PHOTOS
VITO SELMA
Furniture designer Vito Selma speaks of how his
surroundings inspire him and of the bright future he
foresees for Philippine design
Q&A
ONE-ON-ONE WITH NEWSMAKERS
The casual observer might be
surprised at how much Vito Selma
has accomplished at such a young
age. The 30-year-old designer is
already a veritable presence at
the country’s design shows — he’s
taking part in the latest edition of
Manila FAME and the Philippines
International Furniture Show
(PIFS) from March 14-17 — and
has released several well-received
collections that showcase his flair
for graphic organic. Nature seems
to be his greatest muse, and he
credits the tropical surroundings
of Cebu and the Philippines in
general as an unending source
of inspiration. Though he’s been
entrenched in design from the
get go (he grew up in a family
whose business is furniture
manufacturing) and received
further education in Milan, it’s his
innate curiosity that’s at the root of
his ability to keep surprising design
aficionados.
Natural
selection
What’s your design
philosophy?
The Vito Selma brand focuses
on the natural. It’s my love
for nature that has driven my
designs, all the while relying on
wood as a primary medium.
Wood in its many variations
and iterations provides me
with avenues to experiment,
create and explore. This
exploration has allowed my
brand to push the limits of the
material and also to examine
the results of its marriage with
other organic elements.
What is the distinct
personality of a Vito Selma
piece?
A lot of people characterize
my collections as having
a Japanese or even
Scandinavian influence.
But instead of adhering to
a particular aesthetic, I pay
attention to design details
and push for excellent
craftsmanship. It’s through
these attributes that the Vito
Selma brand identifies itself
as not being Japanese nor
Scandinavian, but distinctly
Filipino.
Describe your new line
I’m introducing something fun
this March — I’ve added more
color and employed a playful
approach. I’m showing a range
of collections, but I’m really
excited about the one inspired
by the story of Malakas and
Maganda, the Filipino version
of Adam and Eve. I enjoyed
taking inspiration from the
story and creating something
tangible that people can have
at home.
Where do you think
Philippine design is
headed?
It’s definitely going in a
positive direction, especially
with initiatives such as Design
PH set up by CITEM.
What’s the best thing
about being a designer in
the Philippines?
My work is largely influenced
by nature, so I’m happy and
feel lucky that the Philippines
offers abundant exposure to
raw materials and a whole lot
of inspiration.
Vito Selma (left) and
items from his award-
winning collection
