ArteFino is a movement that inspires an elevated yet responsible lifestyle; it is a shared experience that binds like-minded brands, makers, and consumers. Since its first artisanal trade fair in 2017, founders Susie Quiros, Marimel Francisco, Mita Rufino, Maritess Pineda, and Cedie Lopez-Vargas, have always believed in creating an inclusive platform for local brands to tell their inspiring stories. Throughout the years, they’ve launched countless local labels and designers.
For this year’s ArteFino Festival, more than 150 brands will be showcased in a span of five weeks. Each week will introduce a new roster of labels across the categories of fashion, accessories, fine jewelry, home, and children’s wear. A special section called Barracks will also be set up as a curated space for men to lounge, shop, and sip on local artisanal brews.
The Festival will also introduce 44 new designers and brands, each one handpicked by the ladies behind ArteFino. Brand narratives, purpose, and links to community, are considerations that factor into the selection of vendors.
The ground floor of the Powerplant Mall was deemed the ideal venue for a gathering of this scale. The organizers wanted to create an experience that would celebrate the community–its spirit of sharing and collaboration. ArteFino has always been an exercise in building bonds and forging partnerships. The expanded iteration of this year’s artisanal fair reflects this mindset for community and inclusivity.
After two years of navigating the new normal, and pivoting through unprecedented times, there was no better way to reunite with the community than within a festival-like setting. The team drew from the challenges, milestones, and breakthroughs of the past to come up with a five-week long celebration. The shared feeling of wanting to reconnect helped bring together elements that would define this year’s festival. The organizers wanted to capture the youthful energy that comes to life when you connect again with like-minded individuals.
Interactive programs at were intended to amplify the movement’s call to “renew, repurpose, and recycle.” The Maker’s Challenge, for instance, focuses on the innovative ways by which creators can upcycle everyday materials otherwise discarded. The ArteFino Festival will also set the stage for pocket events and workshops. These open more doors and avenues for both creators and consumers to connect. Five senses are awakened through other festival highlights that round up the ArteFino experience. Eats by Artefino, a collaborative effort with The Seven Pantry, will whet appetites with the best local flavors. A dedicated soundtrack curated by Tarsier Records will bring a piece of the ArteFino festival to everyone’s personal playlist.
Read the original article by Tedrick Yau here: https://artplus.ph/culture-craft-community-and-conscious-lifestyles/