Garapata x Ploom Is Seen in Milan Design Week
Art invades innovation as Filipino artist Dex Fernandez's Garapata takes center stage in Ploom's boldest limited-edition front panels release yet
Words Mika Reyes
Photos courtesy of Lepa & Srećna
April 24, 2025
In a bold move that merges design, subversion, and lifestyle technology, Ploom has just unveiled a limited-edition front panels collaboration with none other than Garapata—the mischievous, many-eyed brainchild of contemporary Filipino artist Dex Fernandez.
At first glance, it’s a partnership that might raise a brow. After all, what could a sleek, minimalist heated tobacco device possibly have in common with a garishly rendered, street-art-born tick? But therein lies the genius.
Garapata, much like the cultural undercurrents it was born from, resists definition. Dex Fernandez’s vibrant alter ego—spotted on urban walls, gallery canvases, and even couture garments—has become a symbol of infestation not just in the literal sense, but of ideas, movement, and artistic rebellion. In his universe, the parasite is not a nuisance but a statement.
Ploom, meanwhile, is redefining how adult smokers experience tobacco. With its Ploom X Advanced device, the brand has quietly but confidently disrupted the heated tobacco landscape—offering a next-gen alternative that is intuitive, elegant, and rooted in Japanese craftsmanship. Its heated tobacco technology delivers a refined tobacco ritual minus the smoke, ash, or lingering odor, speaking to a generation that favors both discretion and design.
So, what happens when two disruptive forces collide?
The result is a visually arresting limited-edition Ploom X Advanced front panels that defies the norms of traditional tobacco culture. The once-sleek surface of the device is now a riot of neon energy, wrapped in Garapata’s signature motif—a design that challenges the binary of high art and consumer object. It’s not just a collectible, but a wearable canvas.
The launch of this collaboration made a global splash during Milan Design Week 2025. At the #PloomXMDW25 opening party, Filipino pride was palpable. Fernandez stood tall as the only Filipino—and one of just six artists worldwide—chosen to be part of Ploom Design House. A celebratory post by, eventologist, Tim Yap captured the moment perfectly, “PH represent! So proud of Filipino artist @dexfernandez... Congratulations, Dex!” It was a powerful affirmation of local talent on the world stage, where design and identity intersected in the most electric way.
According to Ploom Philippines, this collaboration is a nod to individuality and self-expression—qualities that resonate with their increasingly style-conscious community. More than a smoking device, Ploom X becomes a vessel of personality, one that reflects the eclectic energy of its users.
And let’s not forget the cultural weight Dex Fernandez brings to the table. With his recent exhibitions continuing to explore the idea of infestation as both metaphor and movement, Garapata has infiltrated the very fabric of Filipino pop culture. This partnership with Ploom marks another chapter in that creative evolution, reminding us that art is not meant to be contained—it should be carried, flaunted, even lit up.
One thing is certain—this isn’t your average device. It’s art. It’s lifestyle. It’s a quiet revolution, buzzing just beneath the surface.
