Since 2017, ArteFino has grown and become known as an all-in-one 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 purpose in a uniquely Filipino manner.

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 focused 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 sought to the conversation of craft, intentional design, and conscious consumption forward. According to Maritess Pineda, “Presente is all about celebrating the spirit of giving during the holidays. While the event is centered on showcasing amazing gift options, fashion is still a huge part of it—after all, everyone’s shopping for holiday wear too!

One of the main events during Artefino’s three-day pop-up at the Fifth at Rockwell was the SoFa Maker’s Lab: Totally Upcycled Challenge, which was inspired by the principles of upcycling, recycling, and responsible retailing. Students were also responsible for creating this fair’s central setting.

Check out the highlights below to see what transpired at this year’s Presente by ArteFino:

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.

HEARTEFINO: A HOLIDAY COLLECTION WITH HEART

At the heart of this artisanal movement and gathering of community is the HeArteFino
Foundation. The artisanal fair usually charges a P150 ($3.00) entrance fee, all of which are dedicated to the non-profit’s development programs and the communities it supports. “Funds raised from these collections will support HeArteFino’s Development Program Grant and Community Grants next year,” explains the team.

This year’s beneficiaries of the HeArteFino Development Program included: 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.

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 were treated to exciting pairings between their favorite brands, designers, and artists. Apart from Patty Eustaquio’s collaboration with Bayo Atelier (for HeArteFino), Rhett Eala launched a capsule collection featuring artworks by Carlo Tanseco. Jor-El Espina also featured new pieces created in collaboration with Viktor Manila.

This holiday season, several brands came together (in one booth) creating a shopping experience unlike any other with brands like CALLI Bags and Farah Abu, Christian Cera, Jun Escario, and more pairing up.

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. This year’s key highlight anchored the movement’s ongoing campaign for responsible retailing.

For the challenge, six teams of design students from SoFA teamed up to create 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 were announced during the four-day
event with team Siga mentored by TC Sibal of Two Chic Manila , cinching the win for the day. ArteFino’s organizing team added, “They also will be involved at next year’s ArteFino Festival, creating a sense of continuity for the journey’s of our winners.”

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 always a celebration. There
were cocktails everyday, starting at 4PM. Live Christmas music, puto bumbong , and bibingka ( Filipino steamed rice and coconut cakes) that also added to the daily festivities.”

A wide range of homegrown food and beverage concepts transformed the halls of the Fifth at Rockwell into a full-blown Filipino Christmas reception. These included: Gourmandise by Sunshine, Tilde Bakery & Kitchen, CMV TXOKOLAT , PINKERTON ICE CREAM, ArteVino, Bucky’s , Bibingka Atbp and The Seven Pantry

STROKES OF FILIPINO ARTISTRY: GIFT ITEMS, HOME AND CHRISTMAS DECOR

Gift items, home, entertaining, and Christmas decor at this year’s fair featured 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 included: Art of Gold, The Fine Life Market, Artifeks, and Casa Juan.

ArteFino Finds, a curated space filled with artisanal products, showcased holiday gifting items for Presente. Decorative, ornamental objects as well as holiday wear made 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 such as OlaHaus, Pampinay, Milvidas, Pilgrim Queen and more featured this year.

DESIGNED WITH INTENTION, MADE BY HAND

At its essence, products, brands, and collections usually 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 observed, “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 honed in on time-honored Filipino traditions of craft such as textile art, weaves, woodworks, ornament and jewelry making, brands such as Golden Monstera, Dani Osmena, YNDAN, Disneyo del Sur, F. Pottery and Ceramics, Two Chic Manila, Caro Wilson, Peewee Benitez and more were popular amongst attendees.

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 explains, “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.” Brands such as Arete, Ikot Natureline Home Decor, and Azcor caught our eye.

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.