Since its inception in 2017, Artefino has been a platform that champions Filipino heritage through its grand display of artisanal crafts. Led by Maritess Pineda, Mita Rufino, Cedie Lopez-Vargas, Susie Quiros, and Marimel Francisco, its goal is to support, revitalize, and ensure the survival of time-honored traditions of Philippine craft. That continues with the fair’s latest edition.
With the theme “Ka-pamana,” Artefino Fair 2024 gathered designers, brands, social entrepreneurs, and artisan communities whose collective stories of culture, craft, artistry, and heritage have helped shape its movement. These narratives, woven seamlessly into every product at the fair, proved to be expressions of an elevated ‘Made in the Philippines’ mark.
“Through the years, we have created a movement that has continuously grown and evolved. In pushing forward or forging ahead, we bring the entire community with us,” says Cedie. “This year, we are expanding the concept of Pamana (heritage), and asking ourselves: Where do we take this conversation? How do we build on what we had started? What is it that we want to hand down?’”
To further highlight its concept, the fair worked with lenswoman Jo Ann Bitagcol for a campaign, shot at the newly-opened SoFA Design Institute at the Proscenium Retail Row, featuring partner brands and their muses as they share stories of heritage and building legacies.
“As we were planning the campaign, we wanted to highlight the brands by pairing them with personalities who embody their ethos and sensibilities, especially where the concept of Pamana was concerned,” Marimel explains. “It was also important that every generation or industry was well represented.”
The fair will happen from Aug. 22 to 25, 2024 at The Fifth at Rockwell in Makati City. During this four-day celebration, the events hall will be transformed into a vibrant discovery space for 100 heritage brands and products.
Apart from its colorful display of Filipino crafts and products, the fair will also showcase Leeroy New’s installation of “Sacred Heart” art pieces. By bringing art installation into the first touch point of the fair, the tone is set for fresh perspectives and a new creative language.
At the heart of the ArteFino movement is the HeArteFino Foundation. The advocacy-centric initiative is dedicated to supporting specific communities or crafts around the Philippines. This year, HeArteFino will serve as a platform for a limited-edition collection by Patty Eustaquio for Bayo Atelier, marrying art, community, fashion, and zero-waste.
Through partnerships established in this year’s fair, Artefino Fair 2024 hopes to tell the story of a community drawing from heritage and forging ahead. As an advocacy, a movement, an incubator of talents, an initiative, and a platform, the dialogue sparked seven years ago continues to evolve. In reimagining the concept of KaPAMANA, they shed light on innovation and new ideas informed by our storied past as Filipinos. Held within this vibrant patchwork of new weaves, blends, collaborations, expressions, and ways of doing things, are the legacies that the community hopes to pass down to the next generation.