ArteFino 2026 Highlights Five Standout Brands Celebrating a Decade of Filipino Artisan Craft
Key Takeaways
- •ArteFino celebrated its tenth anniversary with the theme "Dekada," challenging participating designers to create special collections tied to the milestone.
- •The fair has grown to feature over 100 brands and expanded beyond its customary venue at The Fifth at Rockwell into the adjoining Power Plant Mall.
- •Several brands showcased upcycling and circular design practices, with Maligaya Clothing Co. and Kael Street repurposing textiles such as doilies and tablecloths into contemporary fashion.
- •Cross-brand collaboration emerged as a notable trend, exemplified by Beatriz partnering with Tish.ph and Zapateria to apply its signature woven thread work onto footwear.
- •Newcomers including Studio Siriusdan and Christian Cera incorporated indigenous Philippine textiles and hand-painted elements into their product offerings.
This year's edition of ArteFino, the Philippine artisan fair that spotlights local craftsmanship and the communities behind it, concluded on Aug. 2 under the theme "Dekada" — the Filipino word for "decade" — marking the fair's tenth year. Participating designers were tasked with creating special collections tied to the anniversary theme. ArteFino launched in 2016 with a mission to preserve and elevate Philippine artisan traditions — from hand-loom weaving to embroidery — by connecting heritage craft communities with contemporary design and a broader retail audience. A decade on, the fair has become one of the country's most visible platforms for locally made goods, arriving amid growing domestic and international interest in artisan-made and heritage-rooted products.
Now featuring over 100 brands, ArteFino expanded its footprint beyond its customary venue at The Fifth at Rockwell, extending into the Power Plant Mall below.
Among the notable brands and products discovered by BusinessWorld were the following:
Casa Selma (tinyurl.com/2rvsy5z6)
Casa Selma's standout item this year was submitted as an entry for ArteFino's Best Product award: a woven tote bag designed to unfold into a beach mat.
Studio Siriusdan (tinyurl.com/53h96kd2)
A first-time participant at ArteFino, Studio Siriusdan was founded by Cyrus Dan Cañares, a former soap opera writer who has transitioned into textile art. His booth featured large hand-painted pillows and ottomans that incorporate indigenous Philippine textiles.
Maligaya Clothing Co. (tinyurl.com/44w3wkp3)
Maligaya Clothing Co. brings a contemporary edge to crochet and upcycled fashion. Working with repurposed doilies and tablecloths, the brand showcased a crochet lace gown with a sweetheart neckline and a thigh-high slit. The upcycling approach reflects a broader shift in Philippine fashion toward circular design practices that divert textile waste from landfills. A complementary young brand, Kael Street (tinyurl.com/yc2zvddw), takes a similar upcycling approach with a more colorful and unconventional aesthetic.
Tish x Beatriz x Zapateria (tinyurl.com/mrypc3d2)
Beatriz, widely recognized for its woven bags, ventured into new territory through a collaboration with Tish.ph and Zapateria. The partnership brings Beatriz's signature woven thread work onto footwear, specifically a Tish.ph mule where woven thread covers the buckles and extends across the short heels. The cross-brand collaboration mirrors a wider trend at this year's fair, where established makers are joining forces to apply traditional techniques to new product categories.
Christian Cera (tinyurl.com/4mhxryhs)
Newcomer Christian Cera presented leather tote bags that are lined with indigenous weaves or hand-painted with Philippine scenes.
— JL Garcia