From clothing to jewelry, eye candy, and skincare, here is a list of festive finds that all support local
Christmas in the Philippines is always a grand affair. When you start seeing the paroles lights go up, and the Santa statues come out, you know the season is underway.
This year, we have seen the rise of many local brands dominating the market. They stand for many things: a bolster to our economy, grassroots jobs for citizens, and a sense of style that is unique to the country.
In celebration of this craftsmanship, here is a list of local Filipino brands you can give to your loved ones this Christmas season.
1. Sunnies Studios
Since 2013, Sunnies Studios has been the go-to sunglasses spot in the country. Within the past decade, the eyewear brand has expanded to optical eyewear, makeup, and even a café.
Under the Sunnies brand umbrella, Sunnies Face specializes in a diverse range of skin-friendly makeup products for the lips, face, and eyes. Tthe sunglasses available at Sunnies Studios are equally as chic. This synergy within the Sunnies brand shares a common ethos of style and inclusivity.
With a range of styles at affordable price points, the brand carries shades for just about everybody—from funky eye candy for your growing niece to rugged aviators for your uncle. Their newest stores also offer colorful, customizable sacs with a free engraving for each purchase.
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Rated the #1 Sunglasses brand in the Philippines, the one-stop eyewear shop was founded by Bea Soriano-Dee, Eric Dee, Georgina Wilson, and Martine Ho, who continue to expand the original eyewear into a holistic lifestyle brand.
Shop Sunnies Studios online or locate a store at www.sunniesstudios.com.
2. Aranáz
Founded in 1999, Aranáz has grown as a Filipino handbag brand that celebrates indigenous artisanal crafts with style. Through their innovation, the brand helped transform traditional Filipino crafts into a sought-after trend.
Crafting local rattan with leather and the occasional wooden beads, Aranáz has developed a distinct style few other local brands can imitate. The aesthetic did not just capture the essence of Filipino artistry but revitalized the craft to resonate with a modern, international audience.
The homegrown brand was begun and built by the mother-daughter trio of Becky, Amina, and Rosanna Aranaz. Since then, Aranáz has expanded to sleek swimwear and even accessories for the home.
Shop Aranaz online or locate a store at https://aranaz.ph/.
3. Jewelmer
With the Philippines dubbed as the “Pearl of the Orient” it is only appropriate that local luxury brand Jewelmer cultivates the most exquisite variety of pearls in the world—the golden South Sea Pearls.
Through decades of perfecting the pearl production process, Jewelmer is the pioneering pearl producer in the country. Besides meticulous cultivation and craftsmanship, the Palawan-based farm has honed a sustainable approach that involves the local communities.
During Christmas, jewelry often ranks high as a favorite gift choice among women. Pearls hold a special place. Besides their luster and as a jewelry staple, the pearl is often symbolized as a present of affection.
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Established in 1979 by pilot and French pearl farmer Jacques Branellec, along with Filipino entrepreneur Manuel Cojuangco, the brand has since expanded as it fuses the French high jewelry tradition with the abundant riches of the Philippine Sea.
Shop Jewelmer online or locate a store at https://jewelmer.com/.
4. Human Nature
This Christmas, give the gift of radiant skin with locally crafted skincare products. Show your loved ones you care with high-quality essentials that support local.
Camille Meloto-Rodriguez, Co-founder of Human Nature, emphasizes the brand’s commitment to crafting high-quality local products that are over 95% natural, effective, and free from harmful chemicals.
These products promote a holistic radiance beyond surface beauty, reflecting Human Nature’s core values: pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment. Formulated by Filipino scientists and 100% manufactured locally, the products prioritize the use of locally-grown ingredients to support the homeland and local farmers.
And just in time for the holiday Human Nature marked its 15th anniversary with the launch of a carefully crafted limited edition design perfect for gifting. The brand has recently unveiled its latest face care innovations, offering a day-to-night natural glow perfect for gifting a full skincare routine. The line includes a Hyaluronic Acid Gel Day Moisturizer, a Hyaluronic Face Mist, and a Ceramide Skin-Renewing Night Cream. The well-loved Sunflower Beauty Oil with Bakuchiol is also a must-try for its 25 beauty miracles. Pair it with the Vitamin C + Hya Calamansi Radiance Serum that features plant-based vitamin C and locally sourced calamansi to achieve unmatched radiance.
To shop and know more about the brand and its advocacies, kindly visit humanheartnature.com.
5. Balbo Board
Created by experienced surfers, the Balbo Board is a perfect gifting option for the fitness fiend. Widely recognized as the Balance Board, BALBO™, has been around since 2015. This adaptable board is expertly crafted to improve the user’s power center, fluidity, equilibrium, and overall mood. It is ideal for various active training sessions such as yoga, surf-skate, biking, wakeboarding, board sports, or any workout, anytime and anywhere.
It serves as a dynamic Balance Trainer, Core Stabilizer, and Exercise Equipment for not only off-field surf training but also those who want to incorporate a fun activity into their workout routine. These Filipino handcrafted boards contribute to reduced injury risk, core muscle development, improved brain coordination, and strength.
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Crafted proudly in the Philippines, the Balbo balance boards incorporate parts sourced from local suppliers. Yet, their impact reaches beyond our immediate team. Every Balbo purchase goes the extra mile, not only supporting our small team but also benefiting at least 70 additional local families engaged in sourcing sustainable supplies and services.
Visit https://balbo.com.ph/shop/ or check out Shopee Mal and LazMall to add to your Christmas shopping list.
6. Coulourette
Celebrate the holiday season with thoughtful gifts that support local beauty brands and indulge the beauty enthusiast in your life by adding Coulourette to their goodie bag.
This homegrown beauty brand that has been making waves in the Philippines for its commitment to diversity, innovation, and empowering beauty enthusiasts. Established with the vision of providing high-quality, cruelty-free makeup products, Renowned for lipsticks, eyeshadows, and face products, the brand has garnered a dedicated following among makeup enthusiasts seeking products that align with their unique style and identity.
Try Colourette’s Lip and Cheek Tint line which is celebrated for its long-lasting, versatile formula. With flattering shades, users can achieve a natural or bold look. The brand’s dedication to cruelty-free formulations allows makeup enthusiasts to enjoy guilt-free beauty.
Colourette Cosmetics takes pride in its Filipino roots, often incorporating local influences into its product names and packaging. This connection to culture adds a personal touch to each product, making the brand not only a makeup provider but also a source of pride for its loyal customer base.
To shop visit https://colourette.ph/.
