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.