Harvard-educated designer Mark Wilson grew up in Manila, the child of an American father and Filipina mother. After many years working as a furniture designer in the States, he returned home to combine his love for modern aesthetics with his Philippine heritage. He designs furniture in Philippine hardwoods, lighting made from ebony wood and mother of pearl and trays in woven copper and brass that are woven in a similar fashion to traditional water bamboo baskets. All of his pieces are handmade by artisans in small workshops in Manila and Baguio province. In addition to his interior pieces, he recently launched jewelry collections that also incorporate local materials and techniques. His Cordillera bracelet, for instance, is woven in 18 karat gold or sterling silver and his Creolla earrings incorporate 19th-century filigree techniques that are updated with local stones like quartz, pearls and lapis lazuli. Wilson hopes that all of his designs express what he believes is true Filipino identity: “the Filipino soul is not a Western one. It is gentle, modest, self-effacing, and full of lightness of being.”

Founded by Filipino fashion designer Len Cabili, who began working with weavers in her native region of Mindanao in 2008, Filip + Inna collections feature dresses, tops and shorts with intricate embroidery and beaded textiles. Today, Len works with twenty different groups of women artisans across the country and in a new workshop in Manila. Set around a lovely garden, her new by-appointment-only showroom adjoins the airy workshop, so shoppers can visit the seamstresses before or after browsing the collection, which is displayed in rooms with walls painted in colorful embroidery patterns.

With an exceptional eye for beauty, interiors advisor and furniture designer Ito Kish travels the globe collecting remarkable art, antiques and objects—for both his clients and his large gallery where he also exhibits his own collections of furniture and lighting and a vast array of coffee table and culinary books. From rattan pieces inspired by his childhood in San Pablo to award-winning wooden benches and embroidered pillows made by artisans from Lumban, all of his pieces emphasize Filipino visual language and craft.

Note: the showroom is open on weekends only.

This shop in the Greenbelt Mall was founded by a mother-daughter team who brings the traditions of women weavers in Mindanao to modern fashions.

Filipino designer Rhett Eala is famous for coining the term “fashionalism,” the fusion of fashion and nationalism as well as for designing dresses for celebrities and the wardrobe of Miss Universe Philippines. His latest venture is his eponymous brand of stores that sells his designs along with other Filipino designers. Branches are located in the Greenbelt and Power Plant Malls.

The internationally celebrated Filipino brand Valdes Designs is the passion project of sisters Bea and Margarita Valdes. Style arbiters and fashion editors have long swooned over the beautifully beaded, layered and embroidered handbags, clothing and jewelry designed by Bea and hand crafted by local women artisans in the Manila-based studio. Considered wearable art pieces, each item takes weeks to make. Kate Moss has worn the iconic large-stone bib necklaces on magazine covers. Recent seasonal clothing collections feature paint-splashed dresses that evoke abstract expressionist artists and blouses with delicately layered floral petals. Though Bea was recently named Editor in Chief of Vogue Philippines, she still powers the creative side of Valdes.

Former flight attendant Zarah Juan got her start in fashion when she was inspired by a trend she noticed in Japan, where people traded plastic bags for fabric bags. She has since expanded and works with tribes like the T’boli who are renowned for their embroidery techniques and the basket weavers from Iraya Mangyan; shoemakers from Marikina; painters from Lumban, Laguna; leather tanneries from Bulacan; and woodcarvers from Paete. Designs include colorful slippers adorned with pompoms and embroidery and rattan bags in fun shapes like old-fashioned telephones and animals.