New creations and classic pieces were recently showcased at the first-ever Boutique “L’éphémère” for mothers at The Rockwellist of Power Plant Mall Boutique. Special gratitude pricing was offered exclusively for the boutique. Unique artisan creations such as 100-percent Philippine tropical handwoven clothing, accessories and home decor made with local sugarcane fabric, and intricate contemporary lamps that showcase Philippine craftsmanship were all on display.

Brand founders Artifeks by Clair Concepcion Barberis, Kanya by Bea Roxas and Maison Métisse by Adrienne Charuel are creating brands that focus on sustainability, community and quality creations that inspire a more mindful lifestyle.

For the home, Barberis thought of using local and upcycled materials with an elevated contemporary aesthetic. In-house skilled Filipino artisans manufactured one-of-a-kind handcrafted objects for the luxe artisan brand Artifeks.

Roxas’ creations were made by harvesting and spinning sugarcane yarns, weaving them into textiles and transforming them into beautiful products. Bags and home accessories made from plant to product make Kanya a sustainable brand.

A slow fashion brand with its own weaving atelier that produces clothing and accessories highlighting 100-percent natural Philippine handwoven textiles, natural/eco-friendly dyes and hand embroidery is Maison Métisse.

Here’s what Adrienne Charuel told Daily Tribune:

Daily Tribune (DT): Can you tell us something about the designs and creations?

Adrienne Charuel (AC): We focus on 100-percent hand-woven Philippine textiles, where we weave fabrics with Philippine pineapple, cotton and silk fibers. We transform them into wearable garments. We also introduce our creations with natural dyes and eco-friendly dyes. All of it is tied up with artists and communities. Then our other brand is Kanya, which is the founder of barrel house, where she does her bags and home accessories made with sugarcane textiles. So she actually has a sugarcane farm. And she does everything from her sugar cane stripping it off to flavors to yarns to the textile and to her finished bags. And then the last brand is Artifeks where my friend, makes these artisan lamps which she does like a mid-century interpretation of Philippine furniture. And so she works a lot with local materials like palm coconut tree lamps.

DT: What is this made of? (Tree decor)

AC: It’s made with recycled tin cans. They literally flattened it and she cuts off each piece and makes it into all of these beautiful little pieces. So very artisanal and handcrafted.

DT: What about Maison Métisse?

AC: I put everything, Philippine tropical fabric, where it’s really made in the Philippines. So I’m proud to say that women’s garments are really 100-percent Filipino from the fibers to the art, the science and the designer, which is me. And then even for our hand crochet products. It takes eight to 10 days to make this. We really work with artists and we have our own weaving. I really wanted to get into weaving our own Philippine tropical fabric which makes it unique.

DT: How do you choose the color and fabric to use?

AC: For the handwoven, I’m keeping it simple because I was inspired more by white luxury, simple wearables. I do have my very colorful fabrics which are eco-friendly and organic. Then, of course, I worked with neighboring areas from northern design in Abra. And I’ve been working with them since 2018, to embellish it.

DT: How do you often change? Or how do you often create new pieces?

AC: The most ideal, one to two collections in a year.  Just one because everything is handpicked and it takes either 10 days. So just imagine our timeline, in terms of producing and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because everything is artisanal and handcrafted.

DT: Why do you prefer local artists and products?

AC: I’ve always loved anything handcrafted because there’s really a story and a heritage behind it. Like if you look at the handcrafted items and I love that because the person who created that, their personality, their attitude, their emotion at that moment, when they’re creating something, you feel it when you look at fabric, so it has its own charm, and it’s unique to the person who made it at that specific time. Maybe she’s having a bad day, maybe she’s having a tough day, but textiles will always carry that.

DT: You studied in France. Do you consider yourself studying in a different country in Europe? Or maybe South America because of Latin or maybe China?

AC: No idea for the moment. But I would really love to further my studies in Bali, Indonesia and India. I went there once and I really fell in love with the textiles and they also are pioneers in terms of natural dyes and textiles.