Now in its 39th year, the longest running provincial trade fair in the country marks several new milestones under the theme, Himbon (the act of coming together under one shared purpose). “This year, we wanted to bring everyone together to remind us of the stories and values that unite us–our shared identity, community, and heritage,” says Mary Ann Colmenares, co-chair of the Negros Trade Fair.
With 139 participating vendors and partners, the 39th Negros Trade Fair finds a new home at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura, allowing the platform to accommodate more vendors, event partners, and visitors.
“This is our biggest trade fair in our history… Our goal is to allow all our participating entrepreneurs to reach a larger audience or market during our trade fairs,” says Christina Gaston, president of the Association of Negros Producers.
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Walking through the doors of Negros
Apart from the wide range of food offerings, which has been a main draw for visiting the event, Himbon will also feature live music, a fully stocked bar (run by TESDA students), joyful reunions, and a rekindling of generational ties.
“When you walk through the doors of the Negros Trade Fair, you experience Negros. It’s exactly how we would do it when we entertain back home,” says Colmenares. “We’ve always had the vision for strengthening our identity as a collective or a region. Everything we do across all categories from food to fashion, home and design, is always a reflection of our Negrense culture and how we translate them onto our products.”
Soul, soil, and style
Fashion, design, and artistry take center stage during this year’s six-day event. Gaston elaborates, “The Negrense fashion and design industry is anchored on an appreciation for what’s grown in the land. Everything from the fibers to the weaving and heritage stitches find their roots in agri or soil.”
Tropical fibers used to make Lakat’s sneakers, for example, are sourced from pineapples grown in Negros. Garments from Vivo Handmade, a slow fashion brand that showcases Hablon’s weaving traditions, are woven by hand that once tended the land. It is a similar story for Ellege Handcrafted Fashion. The company’s hand-smocked dresses, made in the middle of sugar fields, have found their way to some of the most exclusive children’s wear boutiques in France.
The same idea for working with treasures of the land apply to the gifting, home, and design brands. “We are very much rooted in the materials we use,” says Gaston. Pandan, pineapple fibers, cogon, buri, palm, coconut twigs, bamboo, coconut husks, and eggshell are just a few of the natural materials typically used in creating decorative items for living spaces and entertaining. This includes plate chargers, ceramics, table covers, lamps, candle holders, chimes, and trays.
The design prowess and heart for innovation of Negrense makers is also embodied through brands like Hacienda Crafts, an exporter of lamps, lighting fixtures, furnitures, accents, and art pieces using natural, non-forest materials. The company, which recently exhibited at the Révélations Biennale in Paris, has produced bespoke pieces for resorts, hotels and other hospitality properties abroad. Similarly, Madera Handicrafts, a social enterprise that works with coconuts has created decor for some of the most premium resorts in the country.
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A platform for progress
Through the Negros Trade Fair and the Association of Negros Producers, artisans and MSMEs are empowered to become part of a value chain that allows them to scale up and ultimately supply to a larger, global market. Beyond retail, exhibitors are faced with opportunities to supply to other businesses both locally and abroad.
Theirs is a clear vision for creating a value chain–from soil to process, added value to the marketplace–and passing down this knowledge to future generations of artisan entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
Himbon: The 39th Negros Trade Fair will happen from Sept. 23 to 28, 2025 at the SMX Convention Center. For more information, follow the Negros Trade Fair on social @thenegrostradefair.
