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Star Wars fans, this Kenneth Cobonpue collection is for you!

By Hermes Joy Tunac

Not so long ago, in a galaxy not so far, far away, the first-of-its-kind collaboration in Southeast Asia between Kenneth Cobonpue and Walt Disney Company Philippines was born. They have joined forces to create pieces of furniture and home accessory collection inspired by the galactic stories of the well-loved Star Wars series.

Kenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue

In an interview with PeopleAsia during the collection’s preview at Kenneth’s showroom in Makati, he shared with us that he’s one of the very few in “the universe” that has been given the chance to collaborate with Disney. And he’s not about to let it go to waste.

“I have always wanted recognitions for my designs, to conquer the universe with my work, and I’m very glad that Disney partnered with me,” said Kenneth.

At first, Kenneth said that he was hesitant to do the collection because he personally doesn’t do furniture inspired by fictional characters. But Disney challenged him to reinterpret the world of Star Wars through a Filipino designer’s lens. “So I said, okay, I like that. I’m in. It is challenging yet exciting since I have always liked Star Wars.”

Kenneth added, “We wanted to incorporate the essence of each Star Wars character into the designs, while staying true to our aesthetic and process of creating them by hand. We reimagined the Star Wars universe through the lens of the Filipino craftsman and creative. Finding the balance was a bit of a challenge, but it was also a lot of fun.”

When asked to name his favorite piece in the collection, Kenneth said that he has always wanted to be a TIE fighter pilot, one of the series’ bad guys, actually, making Imperial Wings Easy Armchair his personal pick. “Although it’s made on earth, sitting on it, I hope, transports you to other worlds,” he continued.

Now, for the best part, PeopleAsia gives you a virtual tour of the iconic Kenneth Cobonpue x Star Wars collection:

VADER Easy Armchair

Featuring a foldable swivel table and an open weave canopy, this easy armchair mixes business and pleasure as an office and a personal nook in one, making the chair versatile in function. The seat cushion resembles Darth Vader’s mask, which is achieved through meticulous stitching. It is your very own private space to have a cup of tea and plan your next scheme to conquer the Rebel Alliance.
The seat cushion resembles Darth Vader’s mask, which is achieved through meticulous stitching.

SIDIOUS Easy Armchair

To embody Darth Sidious, this easy armchair’s backrest is raised higher to resemble a hood, and its legs are slightly curved forward.
To embody Darth Sidious, this easy armchair’s backrest is raised higher to resemble a hood, and its legs are slightly curved forward.

IMPERIAL WINGS Easy Armchair

Imperial Wings is inspired by the unforgettable symbol of the Imperial fleet, the TIE fighter.
Imperial Wings is inspired by the unforgettable symbol of the Imperial fleet, the TIE fighter.

CHEWIE Rocking Stool

The microfiber strips are colored brown and wrapped with a fabric belt to emulate Chewbacca and his bandolier.
The microfiber strips are colored brown and wrapped with a fabric belt to represent Chewbacca and his bandolier.

LITTLE JEDI Hanging Lamp

Little Jedi is a sculptural composition of steel with salago fiber applied by hand to add volume and body.
Little Jedi is a sculptural composition of steel with salago fiber applied by hand to add volume and body to the intricate piece.

The Kenneth Cobonpue x Star Wars collection is exclusively available in the Philippines. For more information, visit http://kennethcobonpue.com.

 

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