As featured on The Philippine Daily Inquirer last Dec 15, 2021
Ottomans, refurbished chairs, throw pillows use fabric from all over the world
When Cyrus Dan Canares started his line of home furnishings five years ago. there was no sign of a looming pandemic. He had a job writing scripts for soap operas on ABS-CBN and dabbed in design during his spare time. Prior to this, he worked on a cruise ship as a photographer where he caught the travel bug. TravelFund by Sirius Dan was literally his travel fund. He used the earnings from the items he sold to buy tickets so he could travel to countries like Nepal and South Africa.
"I wanted to see and stay in these different places for longer than two days, which is usually the amount of time we would spend in one place when I used to work on a ship. "Canares told Lifestyle.
He started out by selling throw pillows made with woven fabrics purchased in his local and foreign trips. Abel Iloko and Mindanao t'nalak could be paired with vivid tribal fabric from Africa, The clash of colors and patterns somehow worked and he became known for this aesthetic. For that added laver of uniqueness Canares paints on the fabric acrylic paint in effect putting his personal stamp on the pieces.
The Letran graduate didn't take up industrial design at school; instead he studied communication arts. *But I've always had an appreciation for the visual arts." Canares got his feet wet in retail by Joining the Legazpi Sunday Market in Makati City where he caught the eye of shoppers with his brightly colored wares. He has since expanded his range to include reupholstered chairs, and ottomans that can double as a coffee table and as extra seating with storage.
When Cyrus Dan Canares started his line of home furnishings five years ago. there was no sign of a looming pandemic. He had a job writing scripts for soap operas on ABS-CBN and dabbed in design during his spare time. Prior to this, he worked on a cruise ship as a photographer where he caught the travel bug. TravelFund by Sirius Dan was literally his travel fund. He used the earnings from the items he sold to buy tickets so he could travel to countries like Nepal and South Africa
'Good bones'
When he spots a chair with "good bones" at a flea market that hat been better days, he gives it a thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of paint before covering it with fabric from stash.
'I also place fabric on the backs of the chairs because I want my pieces to 'float' or look good from all sides," he said.
Canares calls one of his recent designs an "ottotrunk" , a portmanteau for ottoman and trunk where lid can be lifted and inside is simple storage. It's perfect for those who living in apartments or condominiums where space is it a premium.
Continuing his aesthetic, he covers ottomans in different types of woven fabric. Even the interior is padded and lined with what looks like striped cotton ticking. "I've sold a lot of these since they first came out."
One other thing he Prides himself with his crafting items that are not only nice to look at or place on display but can actually be used. "All of them we really designed to be used." Travel restrictions due to the pandemic may have forced him to stay close to home but Canares is optimistic he will once again get to travel to Asia and beyond.
"Before the pandemic, I was able to travel to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Laos and Africa. Now. I'm forced to save, which is probably for the best since I plan to eventually open a coffee shop here in Mandaluyong."
Is he willing to go back to ABS-CBN if and when the network reopens? "Yes, of course. I'll always be a Kapamilya, but design will always be with me. And anyway. I can write anywhere."