Woodworking: upcycling to fairs
Beginner woodworking and upcycling remain hot — socials are pushing simple projects like a walnut pen‑holder and easy furniture upcycles for sustainable interiors x.com x.com. At the same time, international furniture shows in Malaysia and the Philippines are spotlighting traditional craftsmanship alongside modern tech, and the Cotswold Homes & Interiors Festival (Mar 21–22) will feature expert talks for makers The Star The Manila Times Cotswold Journal.
The Malaysian International Furniture Fair ran March 4–7 across the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (Mitec) and World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) thestar.com.my, where organisers and exhibitors including Smart Top and Tanggam showcased engineered mechanisms and regional woodwork techniques side‑by‑side thestar.com.my. The 34th Philippine International Furniture Show took place March 5–7 at the SMX Convention Center Manila as a 9,900 sqm trade event that billed itself as a meeting point for international buyers and local makers pifs.ph, with organisers and coverage noting a strong emphasis on sustainable and upcycled materials such as rattan, bamboo and abaca in curated galleries and design talks manilastandard.net. The Cotswold Homes & Interiors Festival is scheduled for March 21–22 in Cirencester’s Corn Hall and town centre and features around 100 trade stalls plus a published programme of 10 talks that includes Laurence Llewelyn‑Bowen headlining a Saturday session and ticketed talks priced between £3–£5. cotswoldhomesfest.co.uk Coverage from MIFF and PIFS underlines two concrete show trends this season: precision engineering and ergonomic furniture from companies like Smart Top at MIFF thestar.com.my, and a PIFS programme explicitly foregrounding sustainability and upcycled‑material pieces in its exhibitor mix. manilastandard.net
