Pampanga-based furniture maker Genteelhome has teamed up with food and beverage company Wildflour for their first collaborative collection, featuring sustainable kitchen pieces made from upcycled wood.
Dubbed the “Hapag” collection, it comprises six artisanal kitchen pieces crafted from wood offcuts generated at Genteelhome’s furniture workshop.
Katrina De Leon, chief executive officer (CEO) and creative principal of Genteelhome, told BusinessWorld that the collaboration reflects the shared values of the two companies, particularly their commitment to sustainability.
“Wildflour and Genteelhome are somewhat alike in terms of ethos or values,” Ms. De Leon said in an interview during the collection’s launch.
“At Genteelhome, we live by sustainable craftsmanship. There’s a mandate in our shop that we cannot throw wood or any trash that’s more than an inch,” she added.
Designed to complement different dining occasions, the collection features six pieces, each with its own function.
Duyan is a footed tray suited for displaying centerpieces such as cakes and breads, while Agos is a round-oval bowl designed for serving salads, fruits and bread. Sanga, meanwhile, is a set of three trays intended for coffee and snack spreads.
The collection also includes Bato, a food-serving platter; Ukit, a serving tray with carved edges; and Kaban, the Wildflour breadbox.
“The Hapag collection is for dining experiences. We can use it as cheeseboards, bread bowls, bread baskets, bread boxes,” Ms. De Leon said.
The pieces are currently available in limited quantities at Wildflour’s Salcedo branch in Makati City. The partnership is also looking to make the collection available at other branches, she said.
Meanwhile, Ms. De Leon said Genteelhome’s business has remained sustainable this year despite inflation and rising operational costs.
“Everyone is facing difficulty, price hikes, inflation,” she said. “But thankfully, by God’s grace, the business is sustainable. We have projects to really feed the Filipino workers,” she added.
Looking ahead, Genteelhome plans to open opportunities for young designers next year as it continues to develop new designs and expand its creative offerings. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
