From rags to runway: Upcycled streetwear wins big

The finalists with the mentors, judges and ArteFino founders —PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOFA

A trio of fashion students at SoFA Design Institute who upcycled old tracksuits into fresh new streetwear were chosen winners of the ArteFino Maker’s Lab 2024.

The third edition of the contest, dubbed “Retaso Atbp.: ArteFino x SoFA Upcycling Design Challenge,” chose the three-piece entry, “Siga,” by Raine Maxine Eduave, Summer Villaluz, and Jace Icha Logaring for the grand prize. The trio was mentored by fashion designer TC Sibal.

Team Alalola with mentor Jor-el Espina (second from left) and their model (second from right)

ArteFino, the movement founded in 2017 that champions Filipino artisans and crafts, began seeking talented designers who can upcycle material scraps and discards into objects that have retail appeal and the potential for commercial success in 2022. In this year’s contest brief, it said designers have to demonstrate creativity and ingenuity in product design and development. The designs should also be functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Team Interlace’s collection using dead stock threads from Divisoria —CHECHE V. MORAL

For the 2024 edition, ArteFino partnered with SoFA Design Institute, which fielded six teams of three, who worked on the challenge for eight weeks. Each team was given P15,000 as starter fund. Each was mentored by a veteran designer; apart from Sibal, there were Maco Custodio, Zarah Juan, and Jor-el Espina.

The “Siga” team were clear winners from the start, whom the judges—composed of fashion designers Lulu Tan-Gan and Rajo Laurel, SoFA cofounder and Aranaz creative director Amina Aranaz-Alunan, ArteFino cofounder Susie Quiros, Security Bank sustainability head Nikki Lizares, editor Millet Mananquil, and this writer—thought understood their target market, their fellow Gen Zs, and priced their products accordingly.

Close up of Siga’s patchwork hoodie —CHECHE V. MORAL

“Siga” created a hoodie with removable sleeves, matching miniskirt, and boots using fabrics from old jogging pants. The contrasting shades of gray and textures of the patchwork of fabrics, and its exposed stitching, added character to the pocket collection. The quilted boots, also composed of old technical fabrics, rounded up the look.

Winners, too

Team “Tagun”—Kristine Vianca Ozabel, Michael Emir Loresto, Ralph Reymond Catalan—mentored by Custodio, was one of the two special prize winners. The team made three new apparel pieces from donated denim fabrics. The jacket had removable sleeves, which could be turned inside out to expose its colorful stitching underneath and reattached to create a new look. The jorts (jean shorts) featured patchwork on the knees, and had a detachable wrap that transforms into a sling bag.

Team Tagun with their upcycled denim collection

The other special prize winner was Team “Alalola”—Juliana Joie Canino, Selina Tiu, Kira Secuya—mentored by Espina. The three young designers turned to memories of their respective grandmothers—“nostalgia, warmth, comfort”—for their three-piece garment, created out of old curtains and old clothing. Pailletes on the cardigan and the removable hoodie (it transforms into a mini bag) gave texture to their design.

“Siga” will receive P60,000 in cash prize and gifts from sponsors, as well as a chance to collaborate in 2025 with ArteFino on #HeArteFino, the program that provides financial support and mentorship on product innovation and marketing to communities’ creative and handicrafts livelihood programs.

“Tagun” and “Alalola” will each receive P45,000 and gifts from sponsors. All entries will be featured in a special setting at Presente by ArteFino, ongoing until Dec. 1 at The Fifth at Rockwell, Makati City.

Team Pagpag with mentor Maco Custodio (rightmost) and their model (second from right)

The other finalists were Joesua Daoang, Jaiya Seno and Karren Delgado (“Interlace”); Ken Lloyd Pacaigue, Brent William Omagap and Venice Faythe Collera (“Ba-I”); and Nicole Dana Tristeza, Keithlyn Capco and Anthony Tominez (“Pagpag”).

ArteFino was created by Cedie Vargas, Marimel Francisco, Maritess Pineda, Mita Rufino, and Quiros to promote Filipino style and crafts through its artisan fair. The fair has been a platform for many upstart brands and designers, who have gone on to launch their own boutiques or on to bigger things.

On #HeArteFino, it says on its website, “By elevating living traditions as a source of livelihood, ArteFino hopes to encourage younger generations of artisans to take up traditional Filipino handicrafts—preserving our cultural heritage in the process.”