That was what the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI) posed during the recent press preview of MaArte at The Pen.

Now on its 10th year, MaArte fair 2018 offers special product lines that will be interesting not just for ladies, but for men, too!

Male shoppers will be excited when MaArte at The Pen opens on 10 August at The Peninsula Hotel in Makati City. The three-day bazaar will highlight Pinoy Man Cave featuring a rare mix of appareland accessories for men.

The Gallery on the third floor of the hotel will be converted into a Pinoy cave. Inside, visitors will enjoy special product lines from Len Cabili’s Filip+Inna, Jojie Lloren for La Herminia Piña, Creative Definitions, Balayni Atong, Natalya Lagdameo, and TDLG (Tweetie de Leon Gonzales), among other exhibitors.

Albert Avellana, MFPI president, explains that the move to invite exhibitors offering unique products for men was due to an observation that a lot of husbands and boyfriends attending previous fairs just ended up holding shopping bags for their partners. “We will make it worthwhile for them when they accompany their wives and girlfriends to the fair this year,” Avellana remarked.

Creative Definitions, one of the regular exhibitors, is coming up with new items for men.

“Our products are mostly hand-woven scarves and shawls made of 100 percent cotton,” said Banj Claparols, owner of Creative Definitions.

“For MaArte, we are coming up with special items like cotton shorts and other men’s apparel, in addition to our scarves and shawls. We only make a few pieces of each design to make the products more appealing to consumers.”

Creative Definitions supports a group of local weavers in the mountains of Negros Occidental. The company helps the weaving community by educating the weavers, marketing their products, and promoting advocacies such as using cotton (instead of regular polyester which is not eco-friendly) and natural dyes in the products. A percentage of their sales also goes to the community school’s feeding program.

Another attention-getter is ‘Siklo Pilipinas’ collection of functional, waterproof bags and accessories that are upcycled from inner tube tires. Business couple Lyndon and Clarice Ecuacion have been turning tons of dumped rubber tires into handmade bags, pouches, wallets and belts since 2011. Besides having their own designs, the couple said they also accommodate customer suggestions and personalize the products according to customers’ specific needs.

Of course, there will be products for ladies too! Visitors to the fair will enjoy a wide selection of apparel, accessories, jewelry, bags, fragrances and home décor.

Along with the bazaar, MFPI will also hold MaArte Talks, a series of discussions with select business owners who will offer entrepreneurial tips and insights.

Tea lovers will also enjoy MaArTEA, the special afternoon tea served at The Lobby.

“When August starts, we will be selling our MaArTEA Afternoon Tea,” shared Grace Milliscen Lim, The Peninsula Manila’s public relations officer. “MFPI invited Tsaa Laya, a local tea company that offers premium tea collections using Filipino ingredients. A portion of the proceeds will go to MFPI to support their fundraising effort.”

As a volunteer-led organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the country’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, MFPI continues its advocacy of showcasing unique Filipino craftsmanship and design through MaArte. An exciting collaboration of local craftsmen and entrepreneurs, the fair is one of its major fundraising events to support the National Museum and other museums in the country to further boost cultural awareness across the nation.

With all these fundraising events and programs, Avellana looks forward to seeing more visitors at the museums. “That’s the whole mission of all these activities – to attract more audience for the National Museum and other museums as well. I’m happy that in our lifetime, naabutan natin na may pila ang museum (we’re able to witness the queues of people going to the museum).”

So save the date and shop till you drop for a cause with various products from La Hermina Piña, Filip+Inna, RurungansaTubod, MichAraullo, Chill by Nooks, Piopio, Antukin, VioletVine, Two Chic, Betina, D’OroBarandino, Domesticity/Tilla, Randy Ortiz and Rosanna Ocampo (for apparel); Gifts and Graces, Yvette’s Bags, Creative Definitions, Chills by Nook, Crafted with Love, Ramei Luis, Aranaz Bags, MCV, Tali Handmade, Good Luck, Humans, Cosimo, Yakang Yaka and Manila Collectible (for accessories); Natalya, MickiOlaguer, Nicole Wisenhunt, TDLG, Unang Panahon, Stockton Row, Tim Tam Ong and Riquieza (for jewelry); Yvette’s Bags, Aranaz, Cosimo, Tali Handmade, D’Oro Barandino and Siklo (for bags); Oscar Mejia (for fragrances); and Gifts and Graces, Haute Home, Joey de Castro, BalayniAtong, Pettyjon Pottery, SiegridBangay’s Stoneware Pottery, Oliver and Maude, Creative Definitions, KASSA, MilVidas, Beyond Borders, Domesticity/Tilla, Good Luck and Humans (for home items).

MaArte at The Pen is open to the public and has no entrance fee. It will run from 10 to 12 August at The Gallery on the third floor of The Peninsula Manila. For more information, call the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI) at (02) 697-9509 or (02) 404-2685. You may also follow @maartefair on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website, www.museumfoundationph.org.

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