ArteFino began in 2017 as a lifestyle fair dedicated to showcasing artisanal Filipino crafts and the communities behind them.
The event was founded by a group of women who left another fair to build a platform focused on spotlighting local artisans and traditional craftsmanship.
This year’s edition, ArteFino: Isang Dekada, will run from July 30 to Aug. 2 at the North and South Court, R1 Lifestyle Hall, and The Fifth at Power Plant Mall in Makati.
More than 100 Filipino brands will participate, including Isla-Tek, Arnel Papa, Caro Wilson, Golden Monstera, Ditta, Zarah Juan, and Anthill Fabric Gallery.
Participating brands were invited to create exclusive Dekada Collections to mark the fair’s 10-year milestone.
Isla-Tek will introduce a textile made from pineapple plant leaves that would otherwise be discarded as waste.
Co-founder Cedie Lopez Vargas said the organization’s advocacy shifted toward giving back to the communities that produce the goods.
She noted that the mission was partly born from concern that Philippine craft was losing ground to mass production abroad, where designs can be copied rapidly.
Vargas emphasized that the fair’s strength lies in craftsmanship, intentionality, and the stories embedded in each product.
Over the past decade, ArteFino has helped launch designers who redefined the Filipino aesthetic, such as Jor-El Espina and his barong bomber jackets.
The fair has also moved backward through the value chain, connecting shoppers to designers and, ultimately, to the artisans and communities behind the work.
Success is measured not only in sales but in community impact, with some artisans able to buy machinery, fund their children’s education, and purchase homes since 2017.
Vargas said the next decade will focus on building a stronger textile industry that uses indigenous fabrics.
The audience for the fair has grown younger, with a new generation embracing products that carry both premium quality and cultural narrative.
Vargas urged buyers to understand the story behind each purchase, describing handmade goods as objects that carry the maker’s soul and heritage.
