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Craftsmanship runs deep in Filipino practices. From holiday star lanterns known as parols to traditional woven textiles, we’ve always belonged to a creative culture. Archaeological finds suggest that our ancestors were well-versed in both the skill of jewelry making and the art of jewelry wearing. Much like clothing, the accessories that we chose to adorn ourselves with can serve as a visual ethnography.

Our necklaces can represent our personal styles. Our earrings can be a festive way to celebrate Filipino American History Month. Our statement pieces can give insight into the things that crafted us into the bold, beautiful people we are today.

A Brief TimeLine of Filipino Jewelry

Modern day Filipino jewelry—especially in the diasporic context—can be characterized by ideas like reclamation, vibrancy, shamelessness, sustainability, and innovation, just to name a few. New age Filipino jewelry shines bright like the sun and has a reach that spans farther than the three stars representing our three main islands. Some recently launched brands embody a nod to the culture, combined with an ode to the history, and/or an acknowledgement of the land.

We’ve compiled a list of Filipino artisanal labels that share the mission of empowering members of the diaspora to wear their heritage.

“To #WearYourHeritage is both an act of love and resistance. It’s our mission to empower Filipinx/a/o across the diaspora to be loud, brown, proud, and unapologetically who we are.”

- Cambio & Co.

Image Credit: Cambio & Co.

Without further ado, UNDISCOVERED presents a non-exhaustive list of bold and beautiful Filipino jewelry brands.

Cambio & Co.

📍 Toronto, CAN & Manila, PH; Est. 2015

Materials & media: gold filigree, shellcrafting, brass-casting, woodworking, beading, storytelling

Founded by Filipino-Canadian couple Gelaine Santiago and Jérôme Gagnon-Voyer, Cambio & Co. employs a multi-pronged strategy to create generational change in the Philippines, to challenge colonial mentality across the diaspora, and to build bridges between the two.

The company intentionally sources artisanal brand partners on the islands so that each piece is handcrafted with local materials from different regions of the Philippines. This then preserves traditional craftsmanship, employs local artisans, and allows Filipino consumers abroad to deepen their personal connections with the homeland.

Cambio & Co. also does a lot to share nuanced and compelling Filipino stories, with topics like how not to be a toxic tita [aunt] or colorism in the Philippines. In engaging the community, they’ve published impact reports, and asked questions like, "What does home mean to you?” When Typhoon Odette hit Visayas at the end of 2021, they raised funds for their artisan communities in the affected areas with a $500 out-of-pocket donation and a portion of the revenue from their Visayan pieces put towards typhoon relief.

BRWNGRLZ

📍 San Francisco, CA

Artisanal media: laser cutting, photography

BRWNGRLZ jewelry started as a college passion project for owner Gretchen Carvajal, a Fine Art major at the time, who learned how to do laser cutting in school. Since then, the business has evolved to a full-fledged WOC empowerment brand. BRWNGRLZ has fostered notable collaborations over the years with the likes of Ruby Ibarra, Bayani Art, etc. R&B artist Kehlani was even shown wearing custom earrings.

For FAHM 2020, Gretchen collaborated with Taylor Pineda J and @shakerszstoriez to bring to life a collection that highlighted major moments and cities in Filipino American history. The trio then joined forces with photographers from these cities to visually represent the struggles behind labor strikes, housing protests, and being brown in the United States.

Sunkissed Pinay

📍 Temecula, CA

Materials & media: gold, stainless steel, laser cutting

Maria’s journey into jewelry making began soon after her college days at De La Salle University in the Philippines, when she dabbled in creating simple beaded jewelry for herself. After moving back home to the US and working a few years 9-5, Maria rekindled her artistic hobby and even opened an online shop to sell some of her excess creations. Today, Sunkissed Pinay products can be worn as an emblem of Filipino pride.

Maria also offers unique services, like custom laser cut necklaces using characters of Baybayin, a pre-colonial Filipino script.

What other jewelry brands Inspire you to wear your heritage?

As part of this list, we also wanted to showcase some of the great talent within our vendor community that empower us through Filipino-influenced jewelry. UNDISCOVERED is, at its core, a creative market. We have a deep appreciation for our artisans.

Hey Lay!

📍 San Francisco, CA

Artisanal materials: polymer clay, resin

If you attended the YUM YAMS Ube Festival at Kapwa Gardens recently, you may recognize this brand’s bright, lively, bold and colorful earrings, hair clips, keychains, and stickers. Business-owner Leah Santos takes inspiration from the Philippines and Filipino-American culture, especially as it pertains to the Bay Area (hence this Instagram caption of purple and yellow Philippine sun earrings that were “reading very much Lakers”).

Handmade by Pmaccay

📍 San Francisco, CA

Artisanal materials: polymer clay, gold flakes, resin

This brand by Pauline Maccay is all about “funky chic” clay jewelry! Below, you’ll see an assortment of playful pieces that bring back the nostalgia of a Filipino childhood.

Two things to note when purchasing:

1. Since these items are handmade, each piece is one of a kind. They will be similar but not identical to other pieces with the same name.

2. Your desire for a statement pieces is an investment in the community! A portion of funds from each purchase goes to local non-profit organizations.

Live Inspired Jewelry

📍 Seattle, WA; Est. 2015

Artisanal materials: abalone, acrylic, gold, pearls

Taking inspiration from her childhood years in Hawaii, her study abroad experiences in Tahiti, Fiji, and Samoa, and her native homeland of the Philippines, founder Michelle Moises crafts with materials that remind her of islands in the Pacific.

Her journey deepened during a trip to the Philippines in 2018. After having made earrings for her grandfather’s sister, Michelle was told that she comes from a line of jewelry makers from Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Her ancestors traveled around neighboring provinces to trade jewelry for rice and other goods. “This was such an emotional discovery for me, it gave me a deeper meaning to my ‘why and how’ I create,” Michelle wrote on her website.

This list is by no means comprehensive! See our complete lineup at UNDISCOVERED!

This is merely a small sample of our jewelry makers and an even smaller sample of all that UNDISCOVERED has to offer. Guess you’ll just have to check out the rest in person! 😉

UNDISCOVERED Season Six hits SOMA Pilipinas on Saturday, October 22 from 12-6pm. By supporting our local jewelry vendors, you’re helping to continue our culture’s tradition of creation, thereby helping to advance our living legacy. It’s important to empower community members to keep crafting; it’s how we keep traditions alive.

We’re always on the lookout for brands to support. If we missed any of your favorites, let us know! Be sure to follow us @undiscoveredsf to get updates on all things UNDISCOVERED!

Written by Anne Lizette Sta. Maria