A decade looks good on ArteFino
ArteFino has spent the past decade evolving into a household name for lovers of Filipino design. Beyond the fair itself, its HeArteFino initiatives support designers and grassroots artisans. And in the process, it has chipped away at colonial mentality, proving that homegrown brands are every bit as good as imported ones.
Running from July 30 to Aug. 2, the fair once again takes over Power Plant Mall with fashion, home displays, artisan food makers, and more. Designer Gino Gonzales returns to create ArteFino’s signature central installation at The Fifth, while interior designer Cecile Ravelas reimagines the North and South Courts with home and living displays. Meanwhile, a new dining component—Eats by ArteFino, curated with The Seven Pantry—brings together artisanal food makers and pantry brands.
Its 10th edition, aptly named “Isang Dekada,” follows a theme that looks both backward and forward. While celebrating its longevity so far, the fair plans ahead for how heritage can keep evolving, bolstering the local design communities that keep traditions well and alive.
The “Dekada Collections”
While celebrations carry a sense of nostalgia with 10 years under its belt, the “Dekada Collections” look forward, as ArteFino invited many of its longtime brand partners to create their own collections especially for the fair.
“We challenged them to come up with a Dekada collection exclusive for ArteFino,” said co-founder Marimel Francisco at the media preview at Ayà. “Whether it’s 10 pieces, 10 colors, or whatever that means for them, we wanted the collection to reflect how far they’ve come, how their craft has evolved, and where they hope to take Filipino design next.”
The preview featured a fashion walk between Filipino-themed bites and dalandan-prosecco cocktails. Jewelry designer Arnel Papa opened with showstopping designs, from pearl-laden necklaces to hefty gold earrings. Ditta Sandico previewed gowns in her signature sculptural wraps of pinalino, pineapple fiber, linen, and banaca, a blend of banana and abaca.
Bagoyan, inspired by founder Jasmine Baac’s Tobog heritage from Kalinga, interwove traditional patterns into contemporary sets. Meanwhile, Rags2Riches continued to create eco-ethical bags from upcycled materials, providing traceable livelihoods for the artisans who make them. In between were ethereal ensembles by Trude Lizares, Maison Metisse, Sari Lazaro, Lulu Tan Gan, and more.
At the fair, these limited-edition collections give a glimpse into the evolution of Filipino designs, adapted through modern lenses.
HeArteFino’s living culture
“When we founded our team (Maritess Pineda, Armita Rufino, Susie Quiros, Cedie Vargas, and Francisco) in 2017, we envisioned more than just a marketplace,” says ArteFino co-founder Cedie Lopez-Vargas. “We wanted to build a movement that celebrates the finest of Filipino craftsmanship while creating sustainable livelihoods for the communities behind every handcrafted piece.”
From this vision came the HeArteFino Development Program Grant. “Our purpose has been beautifully simple,” Vargas says. “When artisans thrive, communities grow stronger. Then culture lives on.”
You might recognize some of the past grantees: Project Nova’s inflatable kayaks turned everyday carry and bike bags, supporting local guides and mangrove growers in Bohol. Then there’s Anthill Fabric Gallery, keeping ancestral weaving traditions afloat by working with communities from Bukidnon and Basilan to the Cordilleras and beyond.
And of course, there’s Zarah Juan, who continues to innovate with a distinctly fashionable visual language—from sturdy woven bags to stylish slip-on shoes. All three will have a special spot at the South Court this year.
New this year is a collaboration with Isla Tek, which transforms pineapple, banana, and abaca into innovative fibers for a limited-edition capsule wardrobe that aims to run down the value chain, direct to the material source.
Putting faces to the brand names
The conversations around Filipino design have expanded exponentially since the fair’s first edition in 2017. Asked what makes ArteFino different, Francisco says, “For me, it’s always been the stories… of our brand partners, makers, communities. We love telling those stories.”
As shoppers chat with designers at their stalls, there’s a growing curiosity about where the products come from and the communities who handcrafted them, putting faces to the brand names.
As Artefino enters its second decade, the fair and its founders are persistent in their vision of evolving alongside the makers they champion. While the “Dekada Collections” highlight how far Filipino craftsmanship has come, HeArteFino makes sure the artisans’ work doesn’t end when the booths are packed away.
After all, preserving heritage can’t be done by looking back and staying stagnant. “It’s not just about holding on to the past, but embracing innovation, so that our crafts and traditions continue to flourish, for generations to come,” says Vargas.
