Cover Crafts and advocacy are placed front and centre every year at ArteFino (Photo: ArteFino)
Crafts and advocacy are placed front and centre every year at ArteFino (Photo: ArteFino)
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ArteFino continues to be a go-to stop for the best boutique finds while enriching the livelihoods of local artisans
Now more than ever, efforts to promote the legacy of Filipino craftsmanship are in full swing, and ArteFino is helping to lead the charge. The holiday weekend of August 22 to August 25 was a busy few days for some of the country’s leading heritage brands and small businesses. The events hall at The Fifth at Rockwell set the stage for ArteFino Fair 2024, which brought together a hundred booths from around the country—all eager to promote Filipino heritage through their crafts.
Founded in 2017 by Maritess Pineda, Mita Rufino, Cedie Lopez-Vargas, Susie Quiros, and Marimel Francisco, the movement spotlights homegrown brands to help revitalise and sustain the survival of Filipino craftsmanship. This year’s theme, KaPamana, inspires those involved with ArteFino to delve into their innate curiosity.
“We have always talked about instilling culture and heritage in the next generation. The focus remains the same, but we are turning the spotlight on contemporary expressions that are rooted in our history,” comments Francisco.
Read also: Inside ArteFino Fair 2024: Patty Eustaquio for Bayo Atelier, Leeroy New’s installation, and more
Above Some of the crafts made available at ArteFino 2024 (Photo: ArteFino)
Above Some of the crafts made available at ArteFino 2024 (Photo: ArteFino)
Some of the crafts made available at ArteFino 2024 (Photo: ArteFino)
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Through the years, ArteFino has championed solidarity among participating brands. Carissa Cruz Evangelista of local brand Beatriz comments on how the movement helps build camaraderie among vendors. “I think everyone who comes to ArteFino has something to take from it [...] there are collaborations that start because of vendors who meet each other here. It’s such a vibrant community,” she comments. “I’m blessed that they still continue to promote their advocacy and allow [our business] to be a part of it.”
These movements not only positively impact businesses but also advance philanthropic efforts that support local artisans and low-income communities. Gia Remulla, the founder of the contemporary Filipino apparel brand Yndan, works with weavers from Cavite. She gleams about how ArteFino is able to provide a platform for these artisans to showcase their work. “Overall, it’s been an exciting experience,” she shares. “It’s great to bring a part of Cavite to these fairs.”
More from Tatler: ‘Pamana: Woven Legacies in Fashion & Dance’ champions the singularity of the Filipino identity
Above The entryway to this year’s ArteFino (Photo: ArteFino)
Above The HeArteFino booth at ArteFino 2024 (Photo: ArteFino)
The entryway to this year’s ArteFino (Photo: ArteFino)
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At the core of ArteFino lies HeArteFino Foundation, an initiative dedicated to supporting crafting communities around the Philippines. Every year, a HeArteFino collection is showcased. This year features a collaboration between Patty Eustaquio and Bayo Atelier, which explores new methods of weaving through designs made of natural fibres. Overall, these projects and businesses encapsulate the spirit of the movement as not just an incubator of talents, but a platform that sheds light on important social issues.
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
