ArteFino Redefines The Bazaar Experience With Metro’s ShopLive And ShopArteFino.com

We’re definitely well on our way to the season of gift giving and abundance, and every tita of Manila’s well-loved fair for hard-to-find, local gifts has launched a re-imagined way to access its roster of artisan businesses that offer unique pieces for the home. 

 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. When asked if ArteFino was pushing through this year, this was the reply “Like they say, the show must go on,” said Maritess Pineda, one of the founders of ArteFino. “We will never waiver from our commitment to the Filipino spirit, with products that capture the soul of the makers, and now, with e-commerce and sophisticated delivery systems, we bring their works not only around the country, but around the world,” she continued.  With seven months passing since lockdown measures were put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus, 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.

Priding themselves on being locally handmade, these presents truly keep on giving, as oftentimes, they are manufactured in partnership with local communities which they benefit. Every year, Arte Fino brings the best of local designers and manufacturers together. This year, "The Quarantined Home and & Lifestyle" was foremost on the minds of the ArteFino founders as we they met with purveyors of local, artisanal, and community-based brands, who showed us their collection specifically designed and made for ArteFino, to be launched exclusively on this website. What they saw were more pared down aesthetic, more usable, and streamlined designs without sacrificing the superior quality and aesthetic of the brands they represent. 

With this shift to a digital fair, ArteFino addresses a global, hyper-selective market.  Here’s an unprecedented opportunity to shop right in the comfort and safety of your homes.  Shopartefino.com boasts of shopping concierges being set in place with every purchase provided provenance and discernment. The experience is about getting the order done quickly, with ease of fulfillment. A messenger chat box is available and manned. Purchases can be settled with PayPal and credit card with secure payment options.

ArteFino will now be a yearlong event, accessible from your device 24/7, with a promise of giving you the best that the Filipino can offer.

Shop the innovative collections for distinctive gifts on October 16, 17 and 18, from 4-6 PM.  Consider these picks for the home a preview of what’s in store:

Shop Arte Fino Live with Metro on Oct. 16, 17, 18 from 4-6 PM, live streamed on the Metro.Style Facebook page.  Visit https://shopartefino.com/.