Holiday Ornamental Scarf

We have been designing scarf necklaces since 2012. The idea for this design was pitched to us by a good friend, Sheryll, who is now based in the United States. When she purchased some of our handmade pieces, she suggested to us to make scarves, so that she can wear something for her fall outfit. We kept her suggestion in mind. We finally released our first batch of scarf necklace collection which we named "Hiraya" in 2012. After which, we made several versions of the beaded scarf using different materials such as; mother of pearl, fresh water pearls, semi precious stones and acrylic crystals for the embellishments. We used various fabrics, but mainly we kept our focus on chiffon by positioning the scarves as ornamental pieces. These designs can be worn on special occasions during the different seasons.

Our scarf necklaces received a following from our customers. Until now, our old designs are still being reordered.  They were also a big hit during the Christmas Season, when the ornamental scarves were commonly given as gifts. We first experimented with the idea of doing intricate beading on our chiffon scarves with the Queen of Thorns Collection. Its main design was done on felt cloth, and was eventually reinforced the scarf.

We have recently decided to focus on bead embroidery as a distinct technique and main style for our handmade pieces.  In line with this, we thought of fusing our chiffon scarves with our bead embroidery designs. We asked Marites, one of our women artisans from an urban poor community, to recreate Mayumi,  a popular design which was originally part of our summer collection. This time around, we shifted towards Fall Colors. Once finished, we added the chiffon scarf (2.5 yards) in place of a chain or satin cord. As a final touch, we used faux leather for the back finishing. This ornamental artisan scarf should be a great addition to any sophisticated Fall wardrobe!

Keeping it real.- PJV

Beauty in Brussels: Our handmade pieces make it to Belgium!

Eliad, the ecstatic bride-to-be

Cindy was my schoolmate  back in elementary and high school. She migrated with her family to Belgium, a few years after. With the rise of social media, most especially the popularity of Facebook, we were able to reconnect. Cindy was interested in investing in a line of Filipino handmade jewelry, both as a business venture in the Belgian market and as a means to help invigorate the artisan movement in her home country. A partnership with Palamuti was soon formed, with Cindy personally selecting handmade jewelry pieces to suit European fashion.

The happy couple 

The main sales and marketing platform used by Palamuti is through the global web. Instead of establishing a physical store, we've focused our efforts on promoting through networks on social media. Deciding to take advantage of the rapid development of the Internet, electronic communication has bridged the gap in proximity, and we were able to establish contact with people like Cindy. Her love for fashion, handmade creations, and Filipino products has given us a chance to partner with her to establish her business, Hiyas by Cindy Castell.

Photography by Cindy Castell 

She is a full time mother while doing wedding coordination part-time. Cindy eventually decided to put Filipino brands sourced from her home country.  She connected with us last year, and decided to test the market by buying sample jewellery from our classic collection, Amatullah.

We have great admiration for this woman who balances her life between being a mother, a wife and  an entrepreneur. In a recent wedding coordination job, she was in charge of the couple's pre-engagement photos. She decided to use the handmade costume jewelry she got from us. Cindy finds so many opportunities to promote Hiyas, and the designs we made exclusively for her. The pre-engagement photos of the bridal couple also served as an example of handmade pieces from the Philippines having a place in a European setting.

Cindy styled the bride-to-be using one of the statement necklaces from the "Hiyas" collection. The results are a reflection of her dedication to professionalism and her eye for beauty. Purchase Hiyas by Cindy Castell by emailing hiyas.by.cindycastell@gmail.com.

Do you want us to supply Filipino handmade jewelry for you? Contact us at info@palamutishop.com. 

Keeping it real.- PJV

Beauty in Diversity: World's Indigenous Peoples' Day

"The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is a moment to acknowledge the vital contribution of indigenous peoples to innovation and creativity, to sustainable development as well as to cultural diversity. It is also an opportunity for all to mobilise to bridge the gaps that remain to the fulfilment of indigenous peoples’ rights. This is essential today and tomorrow, as we shape the new post-2015 development agenda."

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

The Philippines is home to a number of diverse indigenous tribes, with each community having a distinct set of norms, mores and tradition. For us at Palamuti, nothing excites us more than when we are traveling for a chance to interact with these indigenous people, and to find out more about their traditions in handicraft. Crafting has always been a part of their lives, in terms of culture and tradition, and the skills and knowledge of each tribe is passed down from one generation to the other.  Their ways of weaving baskets, bags, clothing and producing accessories; all made from natural materials, is something that we as artisans are keen on learning. Part of our vision is to be able to preserve tradition, and use them to improve our own techniques, as well as incorporating new sets of materials to our bead embroidery pieces. Reinforcing our designs and its quality is something that gives us a competitive edge globally.

In 2012, we had a chance to visit Aborlan, Palawan. During this visit, we met with a group of Tagbanuas, native inhabitants of Palawan for thousands of years, under the Aborlan Arts Program. They shared their weaving technique in making accessories using rattan, a local palm plant, as the base building material for their handicrafts. They also use different materials, mostly scavenged bones, seeds, or clay they find abundantly in their surroundings. Different stones commonly sold in supply bead stores also originate from Aborlan tribe's reclaimed natural bounty.

We went back to Palawan a couple of years later, with the intent to research more on materials innately homegrown to the province and to learn more about the different indigenous people of Palawan. Unfortunately, our time there was too short for us to be immersed in the communities. This  fuels our thirst for knowledge, and gives us more reasons to return. However, we were able to visit the 4th Indigenous Peoples' Visual Arts Exhibit by Kalinawa Art Foundation in partnership with the Palawan Museum. We were once again amazed by the creativity of the participating tribal artists. The next time we go visit, we hope that we will have more time to talk and interact with them.

Keeping it real.- PJV

A Mother's Vision: Kalinga by Amaya

"I dedicate this collection to all Moms like me, most especially to my mom who have unselfishly and lovingly raised me and my siblings the best way she could." - Kim, Amaya 

Working and partnering with entrepreneurs and businesses who share in our vision is a very important part of what we do. Being open with ideas, and sharing knowledge in design, is a good way to keep improving our skills. As artisans, we are always open to creative feedback, criticism, and suggestions to make our products better. Consistently working with projects that challenge us, allows us to continue expressing our love for fashion and art, through handmade bead embroidery.   

We believe that in growing a social enterprise, it is a key too to build relationships, not only with the artisans, but with fashion buyers such as Kim, owner of Amaya. Their trust in our capacity to design concepts stemming from their ideas. The quality of the products we provide, as well as their unique style, are the building blocks for our relationship. Kim understands the nature of designing; that the creative aspect is closely tied to the production process of handcrafted bead embroidery statement pieces. They give us the freedom to express ourselves artistically, at the same time, keeping a firm grasp of the standards and aesthetics that her clientele expects from their customised accessories. We want to grow our business along with entrepreneurs who value the painstaking art of creating by hand, because it results in beautiful artistic creations; instead of opting to sell watered down versions made with a half-hearted effort.  

The Kalinga Collection was born from Kim's ideas conceptualised based on her own personal aesthetics. Our role as designers and artisans, was simply to provide her with options on how to execute those ideas, and to turn them into unique handmade bead jewellery necklaces. For this collection, she was inspired by the orchid and the many significances the flower holds over a diverse number of cultures. The orchid is a symbol of love, luxury, beauty and perfection, but what attracted her the most was its ties to feminine beauty. 

As a mother herself, Kim knows that the joy that of bringing forth new life, and nurturing them to become individuals in their own right, can be attributed to her own personal experience being raised by a warm, loving woman. Strength, beauty, and grace are qualities that any mother must imbue to her children if she expects them to thrive as people of substance, especially in a world that places value on the superficial. Thus, she dedicates this collection to all women who know the that the weight of responsibilities  placed on a mother's shoulders is well worth the effort, if you love someone unconditionally. 

Amaya by Kim Basa is one of our featured artists. We will be showcasing some of their daily handmade pieces at the Second Sunday in Main in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 10, 2014. Drop by and support Independent Filipino Artists. 

Keeping it real.- PJV

Woman of Style and Substance: Tina Ortiz

Tina Ortiz, one of our valued clients and supporters, is someone we truly enjoy creating and making statement necklaces for.  Unique projects spring from her sophisticated fashion palate . Her concepts and ideas give us the freedom to tap our artistic side.  It's also a challenging venture to design for her; as a great deal of harmonizing knowledge in materials and fundamental techniques, to bring her visualized designs to life. For these reasons, we love it when she speaks her mind on what she wants aesthetically. I personally look forward to having clients with a refined sense of style and a unique personality.

Outfits inspired by the Tina Zitro Collection during an intimate dinner with colleagues in Sofitel (L-R: Lara, Tina, Kim)

As well as being a woman with great taste, she's also a person with a big heart. Her recently commissioned pieces are handmade by some of our most talented Filipino women artisans. The “Clustered Flowers” and “Butterfly” were hand embroidered by a mother we've trained from an urban poor community in Metro Manila. She has been beading for Palamuti for five years. With constant practice, and the desire to produce exquisite wearable art, she continues to expand her artistic abilities, while giving an additional source of income for her family. With the benevolence of people like Tina Ortiz, we are able to reach out to more women artisans with similar life situations.

Another piece that we designed for Tina is the “Under-the-Sea” concept necklace, which has proven to be a challenge for us in designing and crafting. As artisans, we've been thoroughly engaged with the process of creating this piece, constantly making adjustments on colors and shapes. This bead embroidered necklace is both a product of her unique ideas and our artisans' passion to execute the design, while meeting her expectations.

 "Lovely! Thank you PJ and Kim for this gorgeous necklace. "- Tina 

We are reminded of sea life as a play and harmony of colours and texture. As such, we've opted to elevate the use of materials by fusing it with our core technique; handmade bead embroidery. We used a variety of shells to capture the texture present in marine life. We used two icons to represent the concept: “Starfish” & “Sea Horse”.  By fusing different materials with seed and cut beads as the main components, we were able to reach a level of vibrancy for this concept piece. 

In honor of Tina's support for our artisans, we've decided to name our latest collection after her. The “Tina Zitro Collection” highlights all of the statement pieces we've made for the woman who inspired us to craft these handmade bead jewelry necklaces. 

Timeless Pieces and Rainy Day Fashion

While it's summer in other parts of the world, here in the Philippines, where our main production site is located, we are now experiencing the rainy season. During these months, the archipelago shifts from it's warm, sunny, and dry climate into the wet season. In addition to the yearly monsoon, the Philippines expects a steady stream of tropical storms and typhoons consisting of heavy rain and strong winds. 

"It's a gloomy Tuesday! I took advantage of the weather by wearing my favorite embellished scarf over a simple white tunic top then grabbed a blazer to keep me warm. I want it to be casual so I completed the ensemble by wearing my fave blue jeans, then I picked my open toe heels to complete my outfit for the day."- Kim Basa, Amaya 

And so our style advocate, and proud owner of Amaya , took the wet weather as an advantage to wear her favorite embellished scarves from Palamuti. Though the Philippines is considered as a hot and humid climate, when the wind and rain arrives in force, people still experience the cold because the country gets drenched. 

As a working mom who works in a corporate office,  Kim's sense of style generally revolves around her everyday office attires. Her choice of ensemble springs from her fashion intuition and love for dressing up. She keeps a collection of staple outfits in-hand, while adding a twist, by incorporating carefully selected accessories. Styling is also another form of creativity, and she uses her sense of style to give life to her rainy day outfits; while most simply cope with another tedious day of pouring rain. Draping an original, handmade scarf around her neck during these days shows her ability to balance fashion intuition and practical use. 

As such, Amaya and Palamuti have teamed up in creating new and exciting scarf necklaces. We can't wait to see the outcome of this partnership with Kim. We are privileged to be working with someone who has so many wonderful ideas on how to elevate a simple scarf to a unique, one-of-a-kind piece that every woman should have. 

Filipino Style Advocate: Cayetano Legacy Collection

Palamuti  is a proud supplier for Cayetano Legacy Collection. We hold similar views, in which the Filipino artist can proudly display their creations globally. We recently provided them with several handmade statement necklaces, designed and crafted by Filipino women artisans trained by Palamuti.

Cayetano Legacy Collection was founded by three first generation Filipino American sisters. After recognizing a need for women’s jewelry and handbags, showcasing beautifully sourced materials from the Philippines, they wanted to bring worldwide attention to the beautiful handcrafted creations coming from their native country, while also giving back to the nation that has given them their heritage.

As a bi-coastal fashion lifestyle company, providing classic designs of women's accessories in a modern setting, they actively support Filipino programs that train its citizens to source and manufacture these products.  They are very active in promoting and selling these products through their website, cayetanolegacy.com, and in trunk shows in various parts of the United States.

Among the designs they have chosen to include in their next collection are our Pangarap ni Esperanza, Bastet in Brown and Aurora. All of these necklaces show our artisans' command of beading, primarily using cut and seed beads.

                   


It is through companies, like Cayetano Legacy Collection Inc. who believe, not only in our products but the stories behind them, that keeps us doing what we love to do: creating stories of beauty and empowerment through handcrafted jewelry.

Here are some of Cayetano Legacy Collection’s upcoming events from July to September 2014:  

July

7/1 - 7/31

7/12

BEAUTIQUE DAY SPA & SALON

Beautique Day Spa & Salon - Rice Village , 

2507 Times Blvd , Houston, TX

August

8/1 - 8/30

MAGPIE NYC

Magpie NYC, 

488 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY

8/9

EXHALE SPA

Exhale Spa - Bridgehampton , 

2415 Main Street, Bridgehampton, NY

8/24

WILD RUFFLE POP-UP

Wild Ruffle Pop Up Market, 

Main Ave, Prior Lake, MN

September

9/13 - 9/14

BLOOMINGDALE’S

Bloomingdale's - SoHo, 

504 Broadway, New York, NY

9/13 - 9/14

BLOOMINGDALE’S

Bloomingdale's - Glendale Galleria, 

103 South Brand Blvd. , Glendale

Palamuti Travel Advisory: El Nido, Philippines

We recently wrote about our trip to El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. One of the main reasons on why we decided to visit was to be able to find talented women artisans willing to share in our vision of creating beautiful handmade pieces. After a three-week training period conducted by one of our in-house designers, the women of El Nido were able to come up with these pieces:

 Some of their handmade creations will be displayed this coming August 2014, at the grand opening of Islandfront's Souvenir Shop! Located at brgy. Corong-corong, El Nido, the resort features affordable beachfront rooms at one of the most beautiful beach locations in Southeast Asia.

For their next lesson, our artisans based in El Nido will be sent these sketches as a teaching guide for their next bead embroidered pieces:

Filipino Women Artisans- Handmade Movement

One of Palamuti’s visions when we started to make handcrafted accessories and costume jewellery was to be able to find a platform for the female Filipino artisan to showcase their own brand of handmade products. A few years ago, we were able to put up a website, which allowed us to display our creations to a global audience. Throughout the years, as we continue to develop new designs and techniques, we have kept our eyes open and have found new artists who are also passionate about creating with their hands and improving their craft. At some level, all artists are kindred spirits; people whose creations stem from experiences that have touched their heart and soul.

Rated PG

As a major in Fine Arts and Painting, Paola Germar utilized her knowledge of the visual arts to create her brand of edgy handmade products. Also a graduate of dress making and knitting,, she has a command of using different mediums and materials, which she uses to enhance her creations. She came up with her brand name, Rated PaolaGermar, after the “parental guidance” tag that’s attached to rate certain television shows, because it struck her that her initials were always mentioned on TV! As an artist, she is a combination of wide-eyed youthful perspective and quirky ideas. Her latest collection of handcrafted bags entitled “Flash Bullb Dreams”, are inspired by fragments of her memories. For example, one of her bags was embellished with quartz. She encapsulated the feeling of the freezing cold which she experienced in Japan, translating them into a handmade bag worthy of an exhibit space in a museum. As she describes them; her creations are detailed snapshots of her memory. And it is her hope that as she shares her memories and experiences with you through art, she’s simply trying to make you smile.

Amaya

Kim started Amaya due to her fondness in accessorizing with the use of uniquely handcrafted necklaces.  It started when she got pregnant with her second child, a girl, who she wanted to share her affinity and passion for dressing up. As a manager for a telecommunications company which required her to wear a smart, business-casual dress code, she started matching her outfits with handmade statement pieces she purchased. She wore these custom-made necklaces to work every single day, and soon some of her officemates noticed. They asked where her where she purchased them, and from there, after entertaining orders one by one, she saw a business opportunity out of the demands of her colleagues.

Encouraged by the thought of realizing a dream, she named her brand of unique handmade accessories after her daughter, Amaya. As she continues to pursuing this vision of providing unique handcrafted accessories to moms like her, who share the same love for handmade accessories, she’s thankful that she found the wisdom and inspiration, despite the many challenges facing entrepreneurs and artists, through one significant life event --- being a mother to a daughter named Amaya.

Flow Jewelry andCrafts

While many jewelry businesses start from the love of jewelry, Flow started the other way – it first came about as a way for Steph Lopez to supplement her income as a sculptor and visual artist. This eventually cultivated her love for jewellery-making as an art form in itself, thus serving as an impetus to create pieces that make a woman feel as special and unique as she truly is. She started to learn how to make jewellery in 2012 and establishing her brand Flow, soon followed. Her unique style of handmade jewellery pieces and other trinkets has evolved gradually since then.  In the past year, she has been focused on making more ornate pieces that incorporate a lot of wirework – an element of design she lifted from her experience in making most of her sculptures.

The name “Flow” came to her as she was taking a vacation by the sea. Her love for the beach and water inspired her brand name and the process of how she works when it comes to making “trinkets”.  As an artist, she subscribes to a very spontaneous and “flowing” process. Usually, she simply compiles her materials in front of her, and allows her creativity to flow. Rarely does she draw or plan on how most pieces will look once they’re done.

Palamuti greatly admires these Filipino women artisans, who are dedicated to improving their craft through a process of assimilating life’s experiences. We share a common goal, which is to follow one’s dreams and passions, and to take paths that have opened up, no matter how unconventional, daunting, and uncharted these paths seem. We hope that these artisans continue to be inspired through their artistic journey, as they serve as inspirations for Palamuti’s vision that Filipino artists come to realize their niche in the world of unique, handmade creations and sustainable fashion movement.   

Palamuti at the World Traders World Market

SAVE THE DATE! 

We will be at the Traders World Market in Ohio, USA on March 15, 2014! View our handmade bead embroidery pieces, designed and created by Filipino women artisans.

> These accessories and costume jewelries are one-of-a-kind pieces that function as wearable art. 

> Though made from commonly found accessory making materials, the intricacy, craftsmanship, and design of our creations sets them apart. 

> Touch, see and feel them for yourself. This venue is a great opportunity especially for merchandisers to judge the quality of our work firsthand.

Shop and make a difference!

Global Boutique: Handmade Accessories for Your Shop

 Our Hiraya Scarf Necklaces are our current best sellers. We have recently started supplying these scarves to resort boutiques. Include these pieces in your specialty gift shops as additional offering for your guests.

On the lookout for new products to carry on your boutique? Over the years we have designed various accessories using different techniques namely; bead embroidery, bead linking and wire art. Add these unique, artistic, handmade pieces to your product listing. 

We provide wholesale prices for bulk orders. You may request for our product list by emailing info@palamutishop.com.

Visit our website to know more about Palamuti by PJ Valenciano, our mission and our passion for creating handmade accessories.