THEY’RE NOW MORE MaARTE
Meet the first-time exhibitors at this year’s MaArte oPen House
With over 60 vetted exhibitors, this year’s MaArte Fair is set to be one of the biggest in the history of the annual bazaar and fundraiser. Organized by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, MaArte has been helping the National Museum of the Philippines for the past 11 years now. But more than just a way to raise funds for the country’s cultural and artistic repositories, MaArte has become a venue for Filipino brands to showcase their locally made products—from handwoven apparel to finely-crafted pieces of jewelry to even various types of preserves.
This year’s fair, dubbed as the MaArte oPen House, will not follow the usual setup it has had for the past years at the Peninsula Manila’s gallery. “The 2019 edition will offer a different shopping experience from previous years,” says MFPI president
Albert Avellana. Exhibitors will be housed in 41 of the Pen’s guest rooms, where shoppers can drop by to meet the exhibitors and view their products on display, from Aug. 16 to 18.
“We took inspiration from the legendary open-door parties of Syquia apartments in Malate in the early 2000s,” says MFPI board member
Mico Manalo. “At that time, Syquia was a known enclave of artists, fashion designers, publishers, and other creatives. There was a sense of community and openness then. That melding of the creative spirit and hospitality is what we aim to recreate during the fair.”
MaArte has had, over the past years, regular exhibitors but this year, MFPI welcomes first-time brand partners. Part of this year’s Pinoy ManCave, a concept MaArte introduced in 2018, are members of the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines:
Lally Dizon with her eponymous brand and its collections of bags and accessories made from exotic animal skin adorned by distinctive, handmade brass with stones; and Maco
Custodio with his #LalaWeave shoe and other products made from recycled materials. There’s also Ibarra Watches, founded by Nico Moreno, the first and only Pinoy watch brand that has elegant timepieces designed and assembled locally.
A trio of local brands that work
with indigenous fabrics and weavers bring their products to MaAarte. There’s Vesti with its handwoven dresses and clothes made by weavers from Mindanao using Mindanaonon fabrics. Evita Degamo’s Wear Your Culture (WYC) takes MaArte shoppers into the beautiful world of local weaves, which include handwoven fabrics from Iloilo, Basilan, Ilocos, Sagada, and Kalinga. WVN Home Textiles, founded by Angelica Misa,
Yvette Gascon, and Kylie Misa, with their towels and linens woven in Bangar, La Union.
Last but not the least is PikaPika + Pinta by Wittam Bautista, which will bring its handcrafted cards to the bazaar. Why did you decide to be part of MaArte?
NICO MORENO: We decided to join MaArte because of its soul, purpose, and heart. As a brand, Ibarra has always been an advocate of history education and heritage preservation. And with the MFPI as the primary beneficiary of MaArte, we really felt that it is the right fair to become part of and support.
LALLY DIZON: I have wanted to be part of MaArte years ago but it never really materialized until the ManCave was offered to FDCP designers. Luckily, I entered FDCP last year so I am very thankful to have finally been given a chance to be part of this fundraiser.
MACO CUSTODIO: It was easy to say yes! We believe in the cause of the organizers. We sensed that there was a real love for the National Museum and what it stood for. And there is a strong sense of belonging and community among MaArte exhibitors. I like how MaArte is being inclusive with everything they do.
WITTAM BAUTISTA: Joining MaArte is a privilege. I think that it is not a typical bazaar because it has a sense of purpose. I am proud to be able to participate in a fundraising project that supports the National Museum of the Philippines, and Philippine art and culture in general. Being selected by the MFPI to be part of the fair challenges us to be more creative, imaginative, and expressive with the handmade cards I will be showcasing at the three-day event.
MICHELLE SANTOS: When we heard the format of the exhibit, we thought it would be the perfect setting to meet and thank the people who have been following us online for a while now and introduce ourselves to those who may not know what Vesti is. We also believe in and are in line with the advocacy of the MaArte Fair. We are proud to be part of the celebration of Filipino craftsmanship.
EVITA DEGAMO: My husband Alvin and I have been going to MaArte fairs even before we had our business. We’ve always admired Filipino artisans and dreamed of being one of the participants. Our brand is now two years old and we finally got invited.
ANGELICA MISA: We’ve admired MaArte for a long time now and consider it as one of the most prestigious showcase for local arts and crafts. We joined because we share a common mission—to promote Filipino artisanal products, which we believe are high quality and deserve more value and attention. Through the fair, Pinoy brands like us can continue to showcase the beauty of Filipino arts and crafts, as well as spur creative innovation around it.
What people can expect from your brand at this year’s MaArte Fair?
NICO:
For this year’s MaArte Fair, we will be showcasing all our creations since the beginning. We are a young brand, and we really look forward to sharing our story with our new friends at MaArte Fair!
LALLY: I am very excited to launch my first Men’s Collection at the MaArte Fair! I used to accept only made-toorder men’s bags and belts before, so it’s my first time to create an entire collection. I thank MaArte for giving me to this wonderful opportunity!
MACO: I think they will expect a mix of a lot of things. I’m excited to bring a few limited stocks of weaved shoes, accessories, and more!
WITTAM: People can expect a high level of quality and a truly wide variety of homemade and handmade cards from PikaPika. Handmade products are more than just a product—they are 100 percent creativity and uniqueness.
MICHELLE: For MaArte, we are making sure we showcase collections that can appeal to every kind of guest we might encounter during the open house. We have prepared bright and vivid collections that are unique in form yet very functional. We want to showcase how the indigenous and the modern can be two harmonious concepts, the marriage of which results in beautiful pieces that are irrevocably Filipino.
EVITA: Apart from the new collection that’s specifically for MaArte, we partnered with a Manobo community and have taken their style to a new level of application on clothes.
ANGELICA: WVN’s Mid-Year Collection is all about the home. This year, WVN is bringing a mix of textures from cotton to abaca, handwoven to handcrocheted. Warm up your home by putting down an abaca rug, adding a blanket to your seating area, or lounging in a luxurious robe.
More than just a way to raise funds for the country’s cultural and artistic repositories, MaArte has become a venue for Filipino brands to showcase their locally made products—from handwoven apparel to finely crafted pieces of jewelry to even various types of preserves.