ArteFino, the annual artisanal fair, boldly returns amidst the pandemic. From the sprawling “The Fifth” at Rockwell, the event takes on its commitment to supporting local artisans with a shift to on-line with shopartefino.com. The new shopping experience allows buyers from anywhere around the globe to access these thoughtfully chosen pieces anytime. It is a one-stop shop for Filipino craftmanship, 24/7 that will continuously be refreshed.
Since lockdown measures were put in place, every facet of sales– like fashion and retail, plummeted. It took longer for retail to re-think its strategy as malls, and their tenants closed. For artisan fairs like ArteFino, it was even more difficult, as entire communities were cut off from access to selling goods, with flights and deliveries curtailed.
“With no way to sell their wares, entire communities did not have enough resources to manufacture. This put many craftsmen in dire straits, so we needed to pivot our way of thinking to help them,” notes Mita Rufino, Artefino co- founder.
The ArteFino thought leaders took this challenge and had series of meetings with their brand partners, finding ways to help them, and their workers. Together, the group put through the biggest shifts in this annual event, whom many consider Manila’s toast of the town.