What’s on our MaArte Fair radar
Adding a little whimsy to the mix with its “Karnabal” theme, the MaArte Fair is back at The Manila Peninsula from Aug. 13 to 16. With it comes its standard best in Filipino fashion, design, art, food, and more. The Lifestyle.INQ team shares what finds they’ll be keeping an eye out for, and maybe taking home.
Fashion
Idyllic Summers
Booth 40
When I started following Idyllic Summers after featuring their first collection in 2021, I was drawn to their approach to using our local textiles and weaves into resortwear—something that’s also so local and so natural for our tropical climate. Over the years, Idyllic Summers’ collections have evolved, taking on a wider meaning to artisanship, weaving together local textiles into the work of more Filipino artists.
Their latest collection, “A Local Production,” takes inspiration from Philippine theater—an art scene I personally love. So to see a brand I admire work with theater designers and concepts is quite exciting! Plus, beyond the theatrical inspirations, the lookbook also just looks so whimsical yet cozy. Definitely something I’ll be checking out at the fair. — Pauline Ysabel Miranda
Tropik Beatnik
Garcia Villa 50 (Ground Floor)
The Prutas Series by Tropik Beatnik caught my eye when I first saw it on a friend’s Instagram story. Just think: Bags of fruit have always been synonymous with daily life as gifts we give, must-buys in our market list, and a familiar sight in many homes. Having this in a keychain format that you can build in the MaArte Fair—complete with the net slash sack and the option to choose whatever kind of fruit you’d like to add into it—makes for a fun way to turn an everyday staple into a tiny (and cute!) statement piece. — Diane Nicole Go
We’re well into the rainy season, so Tropik Beatnik’s brightly colored pieces are an easy pick-me-up—like a ray of sunshine or a pocket of summer in accessory form. I know I always reach for my Tropik Beatnik pieces whenever my predominantly neutral wardrobe needs a pop of color. Their “Tropik Talipapa” booth at the MaArte Fair this year is something definitely worth visiting (as a self-proclaimed “suki”). While I’m partial to their bulaklak designs, the prutas pieces are all too cute (and deliciously accurate) to resist, too. — Pauline Ysabel Miranda
Barba
Booth 23
What better place to find local fashion than at MaArte Fair? Barba in particular, reworks local textiles like Ilocano Abel, but with contemporary spins, and refreshingly structured silhouettes. The designs don’t instantly read as traditionally Filipino, either, but still support local industries and keep textile traditions thriving. I’m keeping an eye out for their denim military bustier with silver braiding and vintage-inspired buttons. — Lala Singian-Serzo
Follow Your Heart Bags
The Conservatory
The more I explore local fashion, the deeper I fall in love. What I’m looking forward to most is being able to feel for myself the rich textures and vibrant colors of Filipino craftsmanship on the tips of my fingers, and what better way to appreciate it than in the form of a bag? As a rather basic dresser, I’m always looking for funky ways to accessorize, so I can’t wait to explore the collection of Barong and Filipiñana bag designs from Follow Your Heart Bags. — Lia Gutierrez
Carry Om
Upper lobby
Bags are a dime a dozen, but the ones that come with compartments and pockets scratch an itch that my (probably undiagnosed) obsessive-compulsive self will love. Carry Om’s line of brightly colored bags—particularly the Mala line—features pockets aplenty, large compartments, key holders, and tons of space to keep everything in place. And did I mention that this bag’s reversible, too?
What’s more, Carry Om’s bags come in tons of colorways to choose from—whether bright and bold, or classic and timeless. Each one is made with upcycled materials, using overrun materials in an ethos that gives second chances and makes use of the abundance of surplus. A worthy cause with a worthy piece to show for. — Diane Nicole Go
Amami
Nolledo Room, 2nd Floor
Amami is a brand that celebrates heritage and craftsmanship, and each piece is handmade in partnership with various communities across the Philippines. The brand is making its debut at MaArte this year, introducing its Solihiya Woven Gold Collection. What I love about their selection is that it is made with everyday elegance in mind. Featuring timeless classics you can dress up and down, their designs are proof that centuries-old Filipino jewellery traditions can still live on in a dynamic and modern way of life.
With every intentional purchase, you not only add a wearable piece of history to your collection, but you also support the livelihood of a local artisan. — Angela Go Agustin
R Studios
Room 710B
I’m an absolute sucker for a good leather bag, so when I discovered the pieces of R Studios on my Instagram feed, it was already as if I knew how supple and smooth they would feel in person. Their designs are not your ordinary silhouettes, but are still meant to be everyday workhorses that can carry all your needs and more. Whether your preference is a more structured handbag or a slouchy hobo, you’re sure to find a style to suit your everyday wardrobe rotation. — Angela Go Agustin
Elcru
Room 527, 5th Floor
Elcru is an emerging footwear brand that works with the shoemakers of Marikina to create designs inspired by the tropics of the Philippines. Their signature style is a Gumamela-embellished block heel, which is perfect for adding an extra bit of femininity and flair to your everyday wardrobe. Their pieces are carefully made in small batches with cowhide leather and are made to last, ensuring a more conscious and meaningful approach to dressing. — Angela Go Agustin
One Weave
Booth 5
Crafted by women using textiles sourced from different parts of the Philippines, One Weave is a social enterprise that celebrates Filipino creativity and craftsmanship through a collection of unique, thoughtfully handmade bags. More than just accessories, each piece carries a purpose: to empower Filipino weaving communities and support the skilled women bagmakers of Tondo. Every purchase is an added opportunity for these women—to create, support their families, and continue their craft. — Julia Lim
Home and design
La Galuche
Room 714
Another brand that’s mesmerized me is the Cebu-based bespoke furniture maker, La Galuche. They work primarily with shagreen—a leather made from the skin of sharks or stingrays. Used by Japanese samurai for their sword hilts to the Art Deco movement in France, there’s something very primal about the material, for all its supposedly subdued luxury. From picture frames to coffee tables and key trays with mother of pearl trims, it’s always exciting to see brands from outside the region at fairs like MaArte. — Lala Singian-Serzo
Liwayway
Room 523
What caught my attention amid the sea of items is the Salungo Collection, a porcelain set made to look like barnacles with its dotted, ridged texture. Simple yet classy, thin but high quality, they come in plates, soup bowls, cups and saucers, pitchers, salt and pepper shakers, and napkin rings in your choice of white or blue—all of which make good statement pieces on the dining table.
Bonus: the calamansi salt and pepper shakers that the brand recently debuted are just as cute and lifelike! Definitely a must-have. — Diane Nicole Go
Food
La Mesa Mead
Garcia Villa Booth 52
If we’re talking local spirits, one of the most underrated discoveries that I’ve fallen in love with lately would definitely be mead.
Reviving this practice is Quezon City-based brand La Mesa Mead. Rooted in sustainable practices and an ethos to make use of “what nature provides,” the startup produces its own mead with a flavor profile that veers more tropical—think berries, nara, coconut, or even mango.
The brand offers different iterations of mead, but my personal favorite has to be the Vida, a mead with three times the amount of honey (versus traditional meads), which promises sweetness and simple flavors that let the honey shine through. — Diane Nicole Go
The MaArte Fair runs from Aug. 13 to 16 at The Manila Peninsula, corner of Makati and Ayala Ave., Makati City
