From August 24 to 27, ArteFino Festival 2023 returns to its home at The Fifth at Rockwell and the North Court of the Powerplant Mall.
Beyond the four walls of its festival grounds, ArteFino 2023 will showcase stories of Philippine craft, living local, and innovating sustainable fashion.
The Fifth at Rockwell and the North Court of the Powerplant Mall will feature over 130 Philippine brands across fashion, home, design and lifestyle categories. Guided by the theme “Reuse Repurpose and Regenerate,” this year amplifies a distinctly Filipino point of view in creating sustainable fashion.
ArteFino will also pay homage to the archipelago’s rich history of craft through contemporary designs that emphasize the global wearability of time-honored Filipino weaves and fabrics.
“Over the years, we’ve seen the market grow. Younger consumers are now more conscious about purchasing locally made products that create a positive impact—socially, environmentally, and culturally,” Cedie Vargas, Marimel Francisco, Maritess Pineda, Mita Rufino and Susie Quiros, founders of the ArteFino movement, observe.
Handpicked selections by the ArteFino team will be present at the ArteFino Finds booth. The Barracks, a dedicated space for men curated by Ram Lopez-Vito Bucoy, will showcase 12 emerging Filipino brands that will present a new take on men’s fashion and lifestyle. Local flavors will also complete the experience this year as 12 homegrown food concepts, including The Seven Pantry and Gourmet Garage, will join the festivities.
Tribute to Patis Tesoro, grand dame of piña fabric
Conceptualized and designed by scenographer and costume designer Gino Gonzalez, ArteFino’s lobby entrance will be transformed into a harvest field that traces the journey of craft, from the time Patis Tesoro paved the way for the preservation of ethnic Filipino clothing up to the present.
Fitting forms dressed in iconic, one-of-a-kind pieces by Tesoro will be exhibited with hand woven hammock backdrops. Circular hand woven trays or bilao will float over rice fields containing showcase pieces from the festival. The opposite wall will feature key pieces from new collections of participating brands, framed by hand woven trays.
HeArteFino: The heart and soul of the festival
Proceeds from the ArteFino festival and its ticket sales will be dedicated to The HeArteFino Foundation and its programs. “When we partner with communities or makers, our aim is to empower them to run sustainable businesses. Our collaborations run for several years so that we establish long term relationships and create real impact,” shares Vargas.
The beneficiaries of HeArteFino’s development program include the beaders of the Bagobo Tagabawa community in Davao and fabric weavers of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental. Recently, HeArteFino set its sights on the future of zero-waste textiles. In 2019, they reached out to Anya Lim of Anthill and the weavers of Argao in Cebu to explore the many possibilities of zero-waste textiles in fashion, design, and lifestyle.
As such, this year’s HeArteFino booth will showcase deadstock fabrics from Anthill and Great Women. After a visit to Argao, the founders felt compelled to find a way to support the community. “We commissioned Carol de Leon of Angkan World to create a collection using fabrics from Anthill and Great Women,” adds Francisco. “We saw all the inventory that needed to be unloaded so that they could continue working.”
The ArteFino experience beyond The Fifth
Other areas of the Powerplant Mall will showcase ArteFino’s curation for home and the Maker’s Lab at the Edades Lounge. The section will place the spotlight on ideals of Filipino craft and heritage, but in the context of modern living spaces.
Brands located at the North Court will include Abel.ph, Amparo’s Apothecary, BalaiKamay, C&C, Caro Wilson, HoliCOW, Katha, LARA Samar, Larone Artisans, Likha-Mundo, Pinky Lizares, Pulido, Sustainably Made, The Fine Life Market, Touch of Craft, TravelFund by SiriusDan, and Uswag Artesano X Abre Linea.
With everything that will unfold at the fair, ArteFino’s founders advise: “Breathe. Take your time and stay inquisitive. It’s a cultural experience and the only way to enjoy it is to marinate in the moment. Every product will tell a story. When you discover the journey of each product, they become even more special and unique.”
ArteFino Festival 2023 will take place from August 24 to 27 at The Fifth at Rockwell and North Court, both at the Powerplant Mall. This event, co-presented by Rockwell Land Corporation, will be open daily from 11 am to 10 pm (Friday), 10 am to 10 pm (Saturday), and 10 pm to 9 pm (Sunday).
