A Quirky Sensation: The Art of Garapata, Reimagined for Ploom

Ploom Design House: Meet Dex Fernandez​

At the heart of Ploom Design House is a philosophy of designing with passion and intention, brought to life through collaborations with creative minds from around the globe. This vision comes alive in our partnership with interdisciplinary Filipino artist Dex Fernandez, whose work blurs the boundaries between street art and pop culture to challenge the conventional views of art and society.​

Known for his signature character Garapata, Fernandez’s layered, whimsical world takes form in this exclusive Ploom X Advanced front panel design, created specifically for this collaboration.​

“If Ploom satisfies the needs of a user through the sense of touch, taste, and smell, the Garapata adds to this by adding a visual component to the overall experience,” Fernandez shared.​

Long Nose Garapata​

Garapata was originally inspired by a quirky childhood memory of Dex’s family dogs and the tiny creatures they carried, known as Garapata in Filipino. That moment sparked a metaphor-rich visual language that has since become central to his artistic identity–a recurring figure in his work that symbolizes curiosity, freedom, and his abstract lens of the world.​

Exclusively for Ploom, Interdisciplinary Filipino artist Dex Fernandez reimagines his iconic character in a new species called the Long Nose Garapata: a monochrome, whimsical design, layered in a captivating and authentic narrative. Right at its core, the LED lights up — bringing Garapata’s mischievous long nose to life. Each figure tells its own story—quirky and unmistakably Garapata.​

“Basically, I wanted to integrate the LED light into the overall design,” Fernandez explained. “The Garapata symbolizes being carefree and abstract and embodies storytelling through various shapes and forms.”​

The result is a visually arresting design that’s playful yet deliberate. It sparks intrigue, emotion, and creative energy. This front panel doesn’t just ignite curiosity, it transforms each heated tobacco moment into a fully sensorial experience through touch, taste, and sight. ​

As Fernandez said, “It is a sensational experience that you get when you touch or feel a thing or device.”​

Exclusively in the Philippines​
Dex Fernandez’s limited-edition front panel design is available only in the Philippines, exclusively on ploom.ph and select Ploom stores: One Ayala, Mitsukoshi BGC, Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Galleria, One Bonifacio High Street. Find out more here Ploom Design House.