A first look at what’s in store when ArteFino Fair returns to Power Plant Mall from July 31 to August 3.
There’s always something to love about local brands. That they are made by Filipinos for Filipinos is one. On top of that, they also give back to communities. You can find many of these brands at ArteFino, a popular platform celebrating the Filipino artisan since its inception in 2017.
ArteFino has since been an epitome of the Philippine community’s creativity and heart. That’s why for its annual fair happening on July 31 to Aug. 3, the organization is putting the spotlight on the HeArteFino Foundation. This long-standing, non-profit initiative carries out developmental programs that have been helping chosen communities in the country.
“This year, we wanted to put HeArteFino at the forefront,” said ArteFino founders Maritess Pineda, Mita Rufino, Susie Quiros, Cedie Lopez-Vargas, and Marimel Francisco. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many things happening around the fair. Yes, it is a retail experience, but it’s important that we return to what anchors everything we do: HeArteFino.”
“We celebrate individuals and groups who are paving new paths, preserving heritage, and pushing Filipino creativity forward,” the founders added. “We put the spotlight on stories that inspire action and ignite pride in being Filipino.”
Beneficiaries of the HeArteFino Foundation include bead makers of the Bagobo Tagbanwa community, Kabankalan weavers from Negros, and textile makers from Hablon ni Laureana in Argao, Cebu. Apart from highlighting their stories, ArteFino Fair showcases the creativity of local designers that can transform the ordinary—or the traditional—into modern conversation starters.
We’re not just talking about Filipiniana clothing turned into everyday wear. This year’s fair features several products that are playful, witty and entertaining enough to prove that Filipinos are not just creative or innovative, but are experts in incorporating fun into our daily lives. These products are some of the distinctive pieces The POST saw at the fair’s media preview on July 9.
So, without further ado, here are the playful, chic, and ethical brands you should be checking out at the ArteFino Fair 2025 when it happens from July 31 to August 3 in Power Plant Mall, Makati.
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Charming Baldemor Studios
One thing that’s truly addictive and very Filipino is our street food. These little sticks of fish balls, kwek-kwek, kikiam, and betamax not only bring flavor to everyday life but also symbolize part of our culture. And now, there are wearable versions such as the quirky earrings made by Charming Baldemor Studios.
Baldemor, a wood carving artist from Laguna, told The POST that these quirky, intricate earrings were a spur-of-the-moment idea. “Our street food earrings are actually a suntok-sa-buwan attempt,” Baldemor said. “For this year’s ArteFino, our booth will be everything Manila. We have a wooden sculpture of Manila Cathedral, and a diorama called ‘Sabong,’ among others. So why not complete the collection with street food?”
Like the rest of her studio’s collections of wooden sculptures and bags, Baldemor considers the new earrings as “conversation starters.” And that’s not only for their playful aesthetic, but because they symbolize the Filipinos’ resourcefulness.
She explained, “Being resourceful is in the DNA of Filipinos, and our street food is the simplest symbol that I can think of. Filipino street food will make for a full meal when paired with rice. It’s a symbol of how we cope with our daily struggles and shows how we find value even in the simplest things. In other countries, these ingredients are usually thrown away. But for us, Filipinos, they are still good—even flavorful enough—to be eaten.”
Baldemor’s street food earrings join her collection of handmade bags and sculptures fashioned from salvaged materials, particularly “used and abused” wood. It is part of her advocacy to promote sustainability as “Filipinos have unlimited talent but sometimes, we don’t have the materials to showcase them,” said the artist-environmentalist. Besides ArteFino this year, Baldemor’s products are available for purchase in Spatio at Opus Mall, Quezon City.
Lakat Sustainable Sneakers
Even sneakerheads can put a Filipino twist to their sneaker game, thanks to Lakat’s limited-edition “Wataru” collection. The capsule is the local footwear brand’s collaboration with renowned Japanese designer and paper artist Wataru Sakuma. It will be launched exclusively at ArteFino Fair 2025.
Like the rest of Lakat’s capsules—some of which we wrote about previously—the Wataru collection features 100% vegan sneakers with a straightforward design ideal for everyday use. What makes it stand out is its artful fusion of Filipino weaving techniques and Japanese minimalism, according to Lakat co-founder Michael Claparols.
Each pair is made from Lakat’s signature eco materials, such as locally sourced pineapple cotton fiber, piña canvas, and natural rubber, enhanced by Sakuma’s refined aesthetic. Other than that, the creative duo put a unique spin on the sneakers by decorating its upper with a sizeable QR code.
“The QR code is an experimentation, but it’s part of the design to make it more unique,” Claparols told The POST. “If you scan it, it will lead you to the website where you can read the story behind the collaboration. Below the QR code on the upper, you’ll also see a short story about the shoe and how it was made.”
Claparols said Lakat’s Wataru Collection will be available in limited quantities at ArteFino, after which you can purchase them on creativedefinitions.com.
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Jor-el Espina
The ArteFino Fair has since been known for being a one-stop shop for locally made wearable art pieces, and Jor-el Espina is one designer who proves that Filipinos are masters of forward-thinking design. For this year’s fair, the renowned artist created a collection called “Heirloom,” inspired by Patis Tesoro, the Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion.
The collection took him five months to craft and features Tesoro’s weaving techniques, which Espino learned over “afternoons spent in her workshop.”
Highlights of the collection include a pink mermaid gown with piña fabric bodice and a tulle skirt decorated with colorful flowers, as well as a modern baro’t saya wherein the baro is bedecked with beads and the saya is embellished with psychedelic flowers. “We used different techniques for each piece,” Espina told The POST. “The pink gown uses hand-woven abaca and piña, while both ensembles use hand-embroidery and hand-painting techniques.”
Espina’s “Heirloom” collection will be available after ArteFino in his boutiques at Greenbelt 5 and One Corporate Plaza in Makati.
The Olive Tree
Fashion aside, the ArteFino Fair is also a popular spot for purchasing high-quality, locally made household goods to elevate your home. Among this year’s participants is The Olive Tree, which has vibrant and bold throw pillows that caught our eye during the fair’s media preview.
This collection of decorative pillows is part of the brand’s “Patong-Patong,” which, as the name suggests, uses layers of scrap fabric sewn on top of each other. “Basically there’s a base fabric, then we used fabric retasos for the overlaying design. On top of it, we put sheer material to envelope the item and then we quilt it after,” The Olive Tree creative director Kyla Olives-Laurel told The POST.
Along with the throw pillows, the local brand is showcasing a set of summer-themed runners, placemats, and napkins at the ArteFino Fair. The “Marites” napkins are sure to give you and your guests a good laugh during get-togethers at home, as they are jazzed up with catchy phrases we usually hear at get-togethers.
“I wanted to do something simple that resonates with Filipinos,” Laurel said. “So these expressions like ‘Ganern,’ ‘Si kwan,’ and more.”
The Olive Tree aims to bring not only vibrance or wit to Filipino households, but more so, practicality and sustainability. The brand sources its scrap fabrics from Manila Linen, which supplies hotels and fine dining restaurants in the country. “My promise has always been to create pieces that lengthen the life of linens,” Laurel said. “I do not want to throw these materials not only because they are costly to make, but also because it is important that nothing goes to waste.”
The Olive Tree’s “Patong-Patong” collection and Marites Napkins will be available at ArteFino Fair 2025, as well as theolivetreeph.com and in its store in Loyola Grand Villas in Marikina.
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