Presente by ArteFino will happen from November 28 to December 1 at the Fifth at Rockwell. This year’s fair shines the light on values like responsible retailing and upcycling that make holiday shopping more joyful and meaningful. Here’s everything you need to know about the brands, products, and highlights of the most awaited holiday artisanal affair.
Since it was established in 2017, ArteFino has grown as a platform, community, movement, and incubator for Philippine creativity. Led by its founders, Cedie Vargas, Maritess Pineda, Mita Rufino, Marimel Francisco, and Susie Quiros, the trade fair has continuously championed responsible retailing and shopping with a purpose in a manner that is uniquely Filipino. Apart from its annual festival, which gathers the community every August, ArteFino has also brought Presente to life. It was initially envisioned as a holiday pop-up showcasing “gifts that give back,” but later evolved to become one of the most awaited artisanal events in the annual Christmas calendar.
This year, Presente by ArteFino focuses on unboxing the gifts of responsible retailing. These include time-honored values and Filipino traditions that set the movement and its community apart. Festive flavors, holiday and home decor, unique gift items, party-season fashion do more than just set the tone for a joyous Christmas celebration. They also push the conversation of craft, intentional design, and conscious consumption forward.
(LEFT) TOP - DANI OSMEÑA SKIRT & SHAWL - DITTA SANDICO. (RIGHT) TOP - SARI LAZARO SKIRT - DITTA SANDICO
(LEFT) DRESS - TAGPI_ (RIGHT) TOP - TAGPI, PANTS - COCO & TRES
Here, a list of experiences, event highlights, brands, and love local products to look forward to during Presente by ArteFino:
1. A JOYFUL GATHERING OF A CIRCULAR COMMUNITY
At ArteFino, a distinct sense of fellowship and camaraderie binds a growing community of conscious shoppers, makers, creators, designers and social entrepreneurs. Values of sustainability and responsible retailing also serve as common threads for this creative and inclusive ecosystem. This shared passion for championing local crafts, culture, and artistry, form a special kinship that makes shopping at the fair even more joyful.
YNDAN
2. HEARTEFINO: A HOLIDAY COLLECTION WITH HEART
At the heart of this artisanal movement and gathering of community is the HeArteFino Foundation. The artisanal fair charges a P150 entrance fee, all of which are dedicated to the non-profit’s development programs and the communities it supports. Beneficiaries of the HeArteFino Development Program include: beaders of the Bagobo Tagbanwa community, as well as Kabankalan weavers from Negros and textile makers from Hablon ni Laureana in Argao, Cebu. Output from these initiatives have likewise made it to the selling floors of ArteFino, bringing a full circle moment for the community.
This year’s HeArteFino collection will feature:
● Patty Eustaquio’s Zero Waste Collection in collaboration with Bayo Atelier
● Knitwear by ALLENA PH
● Beaded pieces from the Bagobo Tagbanwa community
“Funds that will be raised from these collections will support HeArteFino’s Development Program Grant and Community Grants next year,” explains the team. These initiatives empower artisanal communities, elevating their craft, creating sustainable livelihood, while supporting the preservation of our time-honored traditions.
Bayo Atelier x Patty Eustaquio for HeArteFino
BLAZER - HEARTEFINO X ALLENA_ INNER TOP - COCO & TRES_ SKIRT - BAGOYAN_ FOOTWEAR - AI-SHE
Bayo Atelier x Patty Eustaquio for HeArteFino(3)
3. CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS AND DESIGNER PAIRINGS
ArteFino has long been a platform and meeting place for like-minded Filipino creatives to come together. Linkages between communities, artisans, entrepreneurs, makers, and creative minds are formed through an extensive network of collaborations. Apart from Patty Eustaquio’s return to fashion with Bayo Atelier, shoppers can expect exciting pairings between their favorite brands, designers, and artists.
Apart from Patty Eustaquio’s collaboration with Bayo Atelier (for HeArteFino), Rhett Eala,will launch a capsule collection featuring artworks by Carlo Tanseco. Jor-El Espina will also showcase new pieces created in collaboration with Viktor Manila.
This holiday season, several brands will also come together (in one booth) to create a shopper’s experience unlike any other:
● CALLI Bags and Farah Abu
● Capricho and Toping Zamora
● Sari Lazaro and Jorvien
● Ha.bi and Peewee Benitez
● Rosber Villar and Tina Campos Jewelry
● Pamela Alicia and Project Nova
● Christian Cera and PIESA
● Jun Escario and Vero Fine Jewellery
ArteFino’s collaboration with the SoFA Design Institute was carried out with the intention of influencing the next generation of makers. The team shares, “We wanted to partner with a creative incubator like SoFA, especially for the Maker’s Lab: Totally Upcycled Challenge.”
Inspired by the ideals of up-cycling, recycling, and responsible retailing, this fair’s central setting will also be created by Interior Design Students of SoFA. The main message: A Sustainable Holiday, A Brighter Future.
The ArteFino team details: “The Central Setting will feature entries from the ArteFino Maker’s Lab: Totally Upcycled Challenge. Several of our brand partners donated scrap fabrics; not just for our participants, but also to complete this space.”
Bag - Follow Your Heart Bags(1)
ACCESORIES - ARNEL PAPA_ TOP - ALEGRE BY TECHIE HAGEDORN(1)
4. A BIGGER AND BRIGHTER ARTEFINO MAKER’S LAB: TOTALLY UPCYCLED CHALLENGE
Co-presented by Security Bank, the Artefino Maker’s Lab Totally Upcycled Challenge is an annual design competition that inspires participants to create compelling pieces made of discarded materials—denim, wood, scrap fabric, plastic, and even paper. It is a key highlight this year that anchors the movement’s ongoing campaign for responsible retailing.
For the challenge, six teams of design students from SoFA will present three-piece collections shaped by the concept of “Retaso + ATBP.” The big goal, to propose fresh, innovative ideas on how to breathe new life to old garments and discarded materials. Every team is paired with a mentor, some of whom are drawn from ArteFino’s roster of brands and designers.
Winners of the Maker’s Lab: Totally Upcycled Challenge will be announced during the four-day event. ArteFino’s organizing team adds, “They also will be involved at next year’s ArteFino Festival, creating a sense of continuity for the journey’s of our winners.”
Rhett Eala
5. FESTIVE FLAVORS: BITES AND LIBATIONS AT ARTEFINO EATS
Merry-making, camaraderie, and celebrations accompany the retail experience at Presente by ArteFino Presente. Marimel Francisco, a co-founder, says, “Ultimately, it’s a celebration. There will be cocktailseveryday, starting at 4PM. Live Christmas music, puto bumbong, and bibingka will also add to the daily festivities.” A wide range of homegrown food and beverage concepts will also transform the halls of the Fifth at Rockwell into a full-blown Filipino Christmas reception. These include:
● Gourmandise by Sunshine
● Tilde Bakery & Kitchen
● CMV TXOKOLAT
● Wawa Bing’s Kitchen
● ARC Gin
● Tiger Craft Chocolates
● PINKERTON ICE CREAM
● ArteVino
● Bucky’s
● Bibingka Atbp
● The Plaza Catering
● The Plaza Premium Baked Ham
● Netong’s La Paz Batchoy
● The Seven Pantry
6. STROKES OF FILIPINO ARTISTRY: GIFT ITEMS, HOME AND CHRISTMAS DECOR
Gift items, home, entertaining, and Christmas decor at this year’s fair feature fine Filipino artistry and unmatched creativity. Chinaware, placemats, heritage fans, trays, throw pillows, parols, and ceramics serve as canvases for portraits of Philippine life, festivities, and gatherings.
Brands that highlight strokes of Filipino artistry this season include:
● Art of Gold
● The Fine Life Market
● Millie Monday
● Looking for Juan
● Casa Juan
● Follow Your Heart Bags
● Casa Mercedes
● Casa Collective
● Artifeks
● Sulat Habang Buhay
ArteFino Finds, a curated space filled with artisanal products, will also showcase holiday gifting items for Presente. Decorative, ornamental objects as well as holiday wear make up the season’s edit. The team expounds, “We usually look for smaller, emerging brands that don’t have their own platforms yet. We endeavor to support them by giving them a space and a chance to be part of ArteFino through Finds.” Emerging brands to watch out for at ArteFino Finds are:
● OlaHaus
● Pampinay
● Sisa
● Wenya
● Crystal Seas
● OneWeave
● Ash&Muff
● Woven PH
● Curioser House
● Milvidas
● Pilgrim Queen
● Assirenn
● RedDot Collective
7. DESIGNED WITH INTENTION, MADE BY HAND
At its essence, products, brands and collections presented at ArteFino are tributes to the world of our artisans’ hands. They are living, evolving testaments to the community’s passion for ensuring the survival of Philippine craft. Running parallel to this discipline is the use of natural materials. Marimel observes, “This has served as both key attribute and differentiating trait for Philippine craft and artistry. That our brands can design with intention and create masterpieces entirely by hand, speaks volumes to the community’s creativity, resourcefulness, and boundless imagination.”
At Presente by ArteFino, brands and designers endeavor to elevate various fabrics, fibers, and other seemingly humble raw materials like abaca, jute, bamboo, rattan, piña, shell, wood, stones, and metals into holiday treasures–sourced from the earth, molded by Filipino hands. Partner brands at this year’s Presenté that hone in on time-honored Filipino traditions of craft are:
A. ForTextileArt
● Emerie Studios
● DITTA
● Alegre by Techie Hagedorn
● Barba
● Dani Osmena
● Trude Lizares
B. ForWeaves
● Capricho
● YNDAN
● Bagoyan
● Christian Cera
● Sari Lazaro
● Odel
● Jorvien
● Aire
● Bicol Sweet Grass
● Disenyo del Sur
C. ForWoodWork
● Sustainably Made by MARSSE
● Charming Baldemor Studios
● CALLI Bags
D. Needlepoint
● Wear Your Culture
● Edited Limited
● Toping Zamora
● Studio Philippo ● Tagpi
E. Patchwork
● Coco & Tres
● Two Chic
● Pinas Sadya
● Local Art + Home + Fashion
F. Pottery and Ceramics
● Fine Bone/Aurea
● Cornerstone Pottery
G. For Ornament and Jewelry Making
● Arnel Papa
● Fedesto
● Golden Monstera
● Farah Abu
● Tina Campos Fine Jewelry
● Adante Leyesa
● Arete,
● Earl Gariando
● Pamela Alicia
● Piesa
● Peewee Benitez
● Judy Jewels
● My Gems Jewelry
● NatureLine
● Caro Wilson
H. ShoeMaking
● Aishe Fashion
● Lakat Sustainables
● SatrenPH
● Jhaz
8. UNWRAPPING NEWNESS AT PRESENTÉ
At every trade fair, patrons of ArteFino consistently look for brands and designers to discover and support. As an incubator for local talent, the platform has launched and nurtured some of the most renowned names in Philippine design and fashion today. Marimel ponders, “Beyond the thrill of discovery, we are dedicated to seeking, developing, and supporting emerging Filipino brands and talents that will bring forward new ideas, innovations, and sensibilities to the responsible retailing movement.”
New brands to watch out for at Presente by ArteFino are:
● Ha.bī
● Peewee Benitez
● Satren
● Arete
● Jeanjaquet
● Bougainvilla
● Ikot
● A(cursive letter)rtifeks
● Natureline Home Decor
● Azcor
Year after year, whether it be the big festival in August or the holiday trade fair, ArteFino pushes the boundaries promoting, and elevating Philippine craft, culture, and artistry. With over a 100 brands, collaborators, and designers joining Presente by Artefino for 2024, everyone is invited to immerse in a holiday experience shaped by ideals like loving local, responsible retailing, upcycling, and sustainable living. The more, the merrier!
PRESENTE BY ARTEFINO will happen from November 28 to December 1 at the Fifth at Rockwell. For updates, follow us on Instagram @artefinoph.
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