From ube-scented candles to Halo-Halo-inspired trinkets, Filipinxt Marketplace opens to the public
By Sarah Gassel
Rose Rubio was on the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art when she was stopped by a familiar sight.
Spilling out onto West 43rd Street, a stylish, growing crowd stood outside a wooden double-door entrance. For New York Fashion Week, this wasn’t an uncommon occurrence. Instead, it was a commonality between Rubio and several members of the group that caught her interest — they were both dressed in modern Filipiniana.
She was elated to discover they were waiting for the debut of a marketplace for Filipino designers and businesses.Before she immigrated to the U.S. two and a half years ago, Rubio used to attend fashion shows in the Philippines. Immediately getting in line, the Met was a distant memory.
Before long, the window blinds lifted to signal the grand opening, revealing an already packed and lively environment. The host of the marketplace, Filipinxt, a New York City-based platform for Filipino designers, had just wrapped up its sold-out Spring/Summer 2026 New York Fashion Week show.
This was the fourth runway show the platform had held since its founding in 2023 by fashion designer Bessie Besana and lawyer and entrepreneur Rob Mallari-D’Auria. However, the marketplace would be the first event held by Filipinxt to bring Filipino designs and products to the public for sale.
“I think a lot of times Filipinos, we get lost in the mix,” says Alexandra Dorda-Marcu, the founder of the Filipino-inspired lifestyle brand Kasama. “So, I love these events that really celebrate what it is that we do.”
Inside, there was no being overlooked. “The aesthetic in the Philippines is very vibrant,” Dorda-Marcu says. “It’s a very maximalist aesthetic. There’s a lot of more is more.”
Throughout the space, it showed. Vivid greens, yellows, and reds seemed to dance between the racks of clothing. At Dorda-Morcu’s table, Ube-scented candles and a halo-halo-inspired necklace highlighted how color finds its way into every corner.
Equally apparent was the craftsmanship throughout the room. Many of the collections incorporate traditional textiles, including the modern Filipiniana fashion brand Style Ana’s. Its designs include the different weavings from two provinces: Ilocos and Abra. Due to the detailed nature of the weaves, the usage of them leads to unique pieces.
“We only make a few pieces,” says Sheryl Ann Buenaventura, the owner of Style Ana. “What you see, we cannot replicate anymore.”
Some of the weaves can take months to produce, which is what Citadel Cruz, the owner of Engkantada Talyer, calls “labor of love.” In the corner where her pieces hung, rich colors, organza and beading brought the name of the business to life.
In addition to weavings from the Abra and Kalinga provinces, two pieces she highlighted include hand-embroidered Baybayin. Soft strokes displayed “malaya” on one and “bahala na” on the other. For Cruz, the incorporation of the Baybayin is both a celebration and reclamation of her indigenous roots.
“You have to wear your culture. You have to be proud of it,” Cruz says.
The event took place September 13 and 14 and featured over 10 Filipino-led brands, with products ranging from skincare, to jewelry, to sportswear. For many of the brands, it was their first time collaborating with Filipinxt.
“We feel honored that we are part of Filipinxt,” Buenaventura says. “It’s like working with family here.”
Not only does Filipinxt give recognition to Filipino-led brands, but it also creates a space for the fashion community to celebrate Filipino culture and heritage.
“It’s not hiding at home,” Rubio says. “It’s out here, in one of the biggest fashion weeks, and it makes me so proud.”
Originally from southeastern Connecticut, Sarah Gassel is a freelance journalist and graduate student at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute studying magazine journalism.
