Tradition meets innovation

MANILA, Philippines - Now on its seventh year, the MaArte craft, design, food and arts fair continues to curate unique, handcrafted items featuring creative reinterpretations of Philippine traditional techniques. On its last day today (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at the Rockwell Tent, the bazaar features Filipino artisans who have created hand-woven and hand-embroidered textiles, clay, basketry, glass and metal sculptures, mosaic tiles, precious metals, jewelry and fashion accessories especially for the fair.

“From its inception, the MaArte Fair has been dedicated to promoting and engaging artisans in a dialogue,” fair organizers led by Cedie Vargas and Mita Rufino say. “As MaArte continues to grow its programs, it is evolving into a full-fledged platform for empowering Philippine design initiatives, not-for-profit community livelihoods and start-up entrepreneurs.”

Aside from organizing the bazaar, the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFPI) has also assisted Filipino entrepreneurs by offering activities and opportunities like a recent product development workshop with PJ Aranador, an international consultant for craft and decorative merchandise, geared towards helping artisans refine their concepts and design applications.

There are about 70 artisans and artisanal groups showing at this year’s fair, thus ensuring that browsers and buyers of whatever persuasion will find something that suits their fancy. Each year we make new discoveries even as we re-visit personal favorites; check out the fair to come up with your own choice list.

Featured in this year’s fair is Domesticity, a Negros Occidental-based company that specializes in bathroom, storage, office, tabletop accessories and gift items. “We are true believers in the talent and skills of our fellow Filipinos, and are also very proud of the materials that are all made and sourced from the Philippines.”

Domesticity was founded by Mariel San Agustin, who started harnessing the skills of locals in the community on her family’s farm in San Carlos City. San Agustin says she encountered resistance at first from the people who were only used to sugar farming.

Persevering in changing the mindset of her employees, Domesticity has been in business for ten years. A portion of their sales benefits Gawad Kalinga San Agustin Legacy Village.

Another group that supports the livelihood of its community is Gifts and Graces (G&G). The non-stock, nonprofit organization works with craftsmen, artisans and micro-entrepreneurs from marginalized groups to help them improve their livelihood programs.

“At Gifts and Graces, we believe in supporting non-profit organizations and livelihood communities in their quest to pursue entrepreneurship as a means to overcome marginalization due to their economic status, background, or lack of education,” says G&G. “We are committed to helping the poor earn additional income to meet their basic and secondary needs to achieve a dignified standard of living and become contributing, self-reliant members of society.”

The social enterprise assists communities through product development, market access and capability building on enterprise management.

They currently work with 30 individuals, NGOs, people’s organizations and cooperatives nationwide to come up with a wide range of products, including stuffed animals, charms, bags and more.

The MaArte fair also highlights traditional techniques such as the weavings of the Yakans of Basilan, Tausugs of Jolo and the Badjaos of Sulu and Zamboanga – all featured in the products of YakangYaka, a group based in Zamboanga which aims to keep traditional textile weaving alive through contemporary designs.

Designer Adante Leyesa is likewise keeping tradition alive with contemporary applications.

Working with local artisans, Leyesa designs innovative bejeweled accessories and bags, using traditional Filipino materials to create world-class, luxurious items.

Among his pieces is a series of hand-beaded bamboo bags which showcases elaborate hand weaving, beading and embroidery with bamboo bases woven by indigenous peoples of northern Philippines, while beadwork is done by a group of young mothers and out-of-school youth from the south.

Leyesa also uses unconventional materials such as safety pins, scrap pineapple fabric, shells and feathers to come up with statement pieces in his Cathedral Collection. Committed to social design, Leyesa is a winner in the accessory division of “Weaving the Future,” a social design competition of the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines.

These are only four of the 70 socially-conscious, proudly-Filipino artisans and companies featured at the MaArte bazaar, as well as a section called MaArte Finds devoted to limited edition items from design ateliers and museum shops.

Through the fair and its activities, the MFPI continues to challenge the Filipino community of artisans to revisit their past designs and come up with a fresh line of exclusive items that feature Filipino ingenuity and keep alive the rich artistic traditions of the country.

For more information about MaArte design fair and its participants, call 404-2685 or email [email protected].