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For ADRIENNE CHARUEL of MAISON MÉTISSE, the art of weaving started as a respite from a new life in an unfamiliar city, and became a lifeline to her own creative identity.

- SAM POTENCIANO

At Maison Métisse’s booth at the coveted ArteFino artisanal fair, gossamer strands of pineapple fiber greet visitors alongside thick spools of yarn, spun from Iloilo-grown cotton dyed varying shades of warm cocoa. For founder Adrienne Charuel, highlighting the origins of her brand’s handwoven textiles is just as important—if not more so—as displaying their end use.

The phrase “fiber to clothing” best describes the overarching concept of her space at this year’s fair, which earned the distinction of being awarded Best Booth. A feat worthy of celebration considering the festival’s long-held reputation for showcasing only the most creative and innovative Filipino makers.

“Education and raising awareness are a big part of the brand,” Charuel shares, as she walks us through the different fibers laid out on the table before us. “We want people to develop a newfound appreciation and respect for textiles because it really is such an ancient heritage.”

For Charuel, the personal journey to her weaving practice came to her from Japan by way of New York. In 2016, fresh from a stint at ESMOD in Paris, where she had spent years studying “the very gruesome, very specific techniques of French fashion design,” she found herself newly transplanted to New York thanks to her husband’s work.