Can I Tell You...about my feature on Asian American Life / CUNY TV

Me and my creations.

There’s a saying that behind every successful woman is a fabulous handbag. Well, if that were true…I would hope that it’s a Rafe bag! And if it isn’t, perhaps after watching this segment from Asian American Life on CUNYT TV you’d be enticed to add one of my handbags to your wardrobe .

Rafe bags on display.

I was delighted to share my story about growing up in a small town in the Philippines and how fashion became a major influence in my childhood.

Explaining the intricate beading on the Tasha small tote to TV host Ernabel Demillo.

Almost every Rafe bag showcases my love for color, craft and detail whether it’s on a sequined clutch, a shell-inlay minaudiere or an embroidered straw clutch.

Ernabel with the Rosie clutch.

Thank you Ernabel Demillo for interviewing me on your show, Chiqui Cartagena for making it happen, Laura Fuchs for taking all the behind the scenes photos and Duane Ferguson for capturing this on film.

Can I Tell You ... about my collaboration with Mestiza New York.

We all know that feeling you have when you meet someone and you just know you’re going to get along. That’s exactly how I felt when I met Alessandra years ago. We have a shared heritage and it’s something we are very proud of. We just get each other.

"I am so thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with Rafe Totenco, whom I’ve long admired since my early days in New York, when I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I first got to meet him back in 2016 at a Christmas party thrown by a mutual friend, and he doesn’t know this but I felt like I was meeting a huge celebrity! Ever since starting Mestiza I always knew I wanted to partner with him in some way, especially since we are both so closely tied to our Filipino heritage and always reference it in our collections. This collaboration has truly been a full circle moment for me, because getting the opportunity to partner with a fellow Filipino designer who paved the way is such an honor." - Alessandra Perez-Rubio

I admire how their clothing continuously reference Alessandra’s Filipino heritage akin to what I do when I design my handbags. Alessandra had approached me last year about doing a collaboration and it was an immediate yes for me. From start to finish, collaborating with them was so harmonious and stress-free. I’m thrilled that the clutches compliment their clothes perfectly.

“This was a match made in heaven, a tropical heaven.” - Rafe Totengco

Can I Tell You...about my Spring / Summer 2024 Collection featured in Vogue Philippines.

ARIEL Shell minaudière.

Rafé Totengco’s Latest Collection Has The Sentiments Of A Sweet Escape

written by Chelsea Sarabia for Vogue Philippines

For his Spring/Summer 2024 collection, bag designer Rafé Totengco presents glistening miniaudières swept over North Fork shores, celebrating femininity, vibrance, sunlight, and the season.

AYA Frame Clutch in apricot raffia crochet.

For a summer away from New York City, it might seem like there’s no better destination than the Hamptons. If it were up to Rafé Totengco, however, he’d tell you that being there would feel as if you hadn’t even left Manhattan. “I mean, it really is a fabulous location,” he says, but “I’m just not there.” On the weekends, the Rafé New York designer would rather be on the peninsula opposite the Hamptons, up in the North Fork. “I swear to you, your trip will feel so different if you just go away for two days. Just come out,” he urges, reenacting the convincing he had to do to get a few of his friends to come and visit. “Just come and see it for what it is, and you’ll see. You’ll come back.”

AYESHA Small Tote Crossbody in beige raffia crochet.

With the locale’s sprawling vineyards, lush gardens, and secluded beaches at every turn, it seems that taking the road less traveled would have you reap the most rewards. “You could kind of call it a bucolic scene or state of mind. I mean, every time I go there for the weekend, as soon as I cross this threshold, immediately, [my] stress level goes like whoosh.”

AYESHA Small Tote Crossbody in multi-color raffia crochet.

Totengco spends every weekend in the North Fork; it’s become something of a necessity for the designer. “Having lived in the city for so long, you need that escape. For me, it’s like, I need that balance,” he tells Vogue Philippines.“I mean, I used to love being in the city every weekend. But now that I’m able to go away, I look for it. I need it.” 

ROSIE Draped Clutch in ivory fine abaca.

He knew it would inspire his next collection as the vases in his home seemed to overflow with the fan shells he would collect on each of his visits. In such an idyllic setting, it was hard not to find beauty everywhere you went, says the designer. “I take my mom and my husband from Thursday night on. It really is our happy place. I kind of wanted to be able to share that happiness—of the location, of the moment, of the feeling.”

ELIZA Shoulder bag in silver with crystal rhinestones.

Totengco is the kind of designer who never stops designing, finding inspiration in just about anything. The collection is largely informed by the details you might ignore in passing: the North Fork’s pebbly beaches, fresh flowers from the local farmer’s market, the frequent bachelorette parties hosted in the vineyards. “You see these girls all dressed up, but [because] it’s so windy and it’s so natural,” he shares. “They’re all dressed, but it’s not, like, super fancy. There’s a casualness to it all.” 

BERNA Half Moon Clutch in fuchsia with an embroidered Bird of Paradise flower.

He approaches his clutches the same way; each piece in the collection is meticulous in its beadwork and craftsmanship, but still conveys something of a sense of ease through its design. “There’s a sequined clutch that I did—[there’s] no way that can be done by machine. When you see it, you see that each sequin is individually stitched into place,” he explains. “And yet, when you look at it [from afar], it’s not a very complicated bag. It’s a frame clutch, done. But it exudes so much femininity and color and vibrance… It catches the light. It reflects sunlight. [This bag] is a way to celebrate light and the season.” 

MEAGAN Minaudière in mint shell inlay.

That same effortlessness is evident in Totengco’s campaign images, starring model Hannah Locsin and photographed by Martin Romero. That shoot day, it would be the three of them in the designer’s car, driving around until they stumbled upon a scenic patch of land fitting for the collection—something not at all difficult to find in the area. “The whole day was just so relaxed,” Totengco recalls. “We shot a lot in one day, but it didn’t seem like it. It felt like we weren’t even rushing. Somehow, there was just this ease into the company.” 

BERNA Half Moon Clutch with a blue and white Chinoiserie embroidered motif.

More than the actual work, Totengco remembers going with Locsin and Romero to buy greens from the farmer’s market and sharing a salad under a comfortable midday sun. The day lacked the frenetic pace that creatives in fashion are so used to, but it didn’t make a difference in the designer’s desired results. “I was so happy when I saw the pictures because they’re exactly what I wanted,” he says. “Her hair’s blown in the wind, and she’s just there in the sun… I don’t know, [they’re] exactly how that day felt.”

BERNA Half Moon Clutch in lime green embroidered with lemons.

In thinking of this collection, Totengco had meditated on his moments of peace spent in nature, wishing the same for the Rafé New York woman “whether it’s just for the weekend, for the evening, [or] even if you’re stuck at home.” Everyone needs solace between all the noise. “I think, more than ever, everyone’s looking for an escape,” he says. “We’re all dreaming of getting away. So even if you can’t go somewhere like the North Fork, I think, just visually, we want to be transported.”

Can I Tell You...about my Fall / Winter 2023 Collection.

Madeleine gold diamante’ clutch.

Rafé New York Takes Us To A Dazzling Reimagining Of Studio 54

By Chelsea Sarabia for Vogue Philippines

Rafe Totengco on his Fall / Winter 2023 Campaign and the sweet homecoming of Filipino creatives that went on behind the scenes.

In setting out to design any collection, Rafe Totengco prefers to work off a feeling.

With his brand Rafé New York, the designer has carved out a niche in the clutches and evening bags sect of fashion. He attributes its global acclaim to one sentiment: anyone can carry a Rafé bag. Over an illustrious two-decade-long career, he notes a sizeable shift in the landscape that mirrors this attitude, with trends that transcend any one type of person—so long as it fits their tastes.

Lila Top Handle in ruby satin embellished with rhinestones.

“With social media, we’ve become a very small world. Everyone sees everything instantaneously, and they also see what other people are wearing,” he says. “Ultimately, that’s also what I love about handbags: it’s a very democratic piece of fashion. You can be young, you can be old. It’s not size-specific, it’s not age-specific.” 

Aya Zebra sequined clutch.

For his Fall/Winter 2023 collection, Totengco doesn’t design with a particular muse in mind but a mood; he paints a picture of a radiant hour in a bar in Bushwick, tapping into the sparkling glamour and the freeing sense of style of eras past. 

The designer expands, “I’m hoping that with one of these bags from the next season, [wearers] get a sense of confidence, independence, and strength, and a kind of boldness [that says] ‘I want to stand out from the crowd. I don’t want to be like everybody else. I’m going to walk in and turn heads. Yes, I’m going to own the space.’”

Raya embellished with pearls.

Inspired by Studio 54 and Helmut Newton’s photographs of the Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking suit, Totengco wanted to shoot in a location that captured the vibrancy of New York City at night. It seemed nearly impossible to find within the city’s cluster of crowded streets and the time demanded of shooting a full-blown campaign; that was, until his team found the perfect spot: a Brooklyn bar with the makings of what could have been a stylish speakeasy from the 1920s. 

Aya platinum sequined clutch.

“The bar provided us with so many vignettes that I was super happy with because it kind of gave you the feeling that ‘She’s inside…somewhere,’” he muses. “You don’t necessarily see her friends, but it doesn’t matter. It’s almost like she’s there [just arriving]. There’s this anticipation of, like, ‘Something fun is about to happen.’ And you can just imagine the rest.” 

Styled in Marcel waves and ‘70s-reminiscent jumpsuits, Rafé’s femme fatale lounges over black leather booths, carrying an array of evening bags in malleable rhinestone mesh and sequins that spill over her fingertips.

Sarita diamante’ flap clutch in magenta.

“We have [them in] magenta, gold, and silver—you know, classic rhinestone colors, [and they’re] all individually done by hand in India,” he says of the collection. “They’re fun evening bags, party bags. When you see them, they evoke that sense of frivolity and ‘Ooh, look at this sparkly thing!’ I always believe a little sparkle never hurt anybody.”

For his campaign, Totengco worked with New York City-based Filipino creatives whom he shares he met through serendipitous encounters. In New York City, it seems, most Filipinos are distanced by only “two degrees of separation.”

Rafe behind the scenes.

He met photographer Selwyn Tungol after he had taken a picture of one of his bags during a Fashion Week years ago and the multi-disciplinary creative Lorenz Namalata at the recent opening of the Silverlens Galleries in Manhattan. Following what the designer calls a “trail of connectivity,” he finds that the bar Namalata scouted for him was Filipino co-owned, too. 

Behind the scenes from the shoot, Rafe taking videos.

“It was just funny. We had a whole crew of other people who were assisting who all came from Manila, all based here now, and it just became this thing. All of a sudden, we were talking in Tagalog in Sleepwalk, a bar in Bushwick, and we were like, oh my God, wait, where are we? What are we doing?” he laughs. “It’s also, in a way, representative of New York now. It really is a melting pot, and I love that—that a new generation of creatives is coming up.”

For Totengco, a predominantly Filipino crew was a refreshing departure from where he first started in the industry. He says, “It was kind of this moment of solidarity where it was like, ‘Well, I didn’t have this before.’ Without even realizing it, it’s happening, and, really, it’s a nice feeling. You feel at home. You feel like you’re a part of something.”

Rafe Totengco and the photo crew at Sleepwalk in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Can I tell you...about my Fall 2022 Campaign shoot in Marrakech.

Rafe Totengco emulating Yves Saint Laurent on the rooftop of L’Ma Lodge.

“Marrakech introduced me to color . . . although I was used to the light and the colors of North Africa, it was only later, when I discovered Morocco, that I understood my colors were those of zellige mosaics, zouacs, djellabas and caftans. For whatever daring things I have done since then, I am indebted to the country, to the violence of its harmonies, the insolence of its mixtures, the intensity of its inventions.” - Yves Saint Laurent

Lila top handle bag in quilted lilac leather.

Saint Laurent couldn’t have said it better. I remember seeing photos of him in Marrakech lounging in a djellaba on layers of Berber rugs and poufs, presumably sipping mint tea or perhaps something stronger. Those images stirred my wanderlust and imagination. Ever since then, I have dreamt of seeing what he fell in love with, finding inspiration and shooting a campaign in Marrakech.

This year my dream became a reality. A family trip that had been postponed several years because of the pandemic finally came through. My sister, Tesa ( Travels with Tesa ) planned an action packed itinerary that would begin in the heart of the Medina in Fez, glamping in the Sahara desert, driving through the Atlas mountains and culminating in the fabled city of Marrakech.

Fernanda frame clutch in latte.

Entering the historic Riad Kniza was like being transported back in time. It was the perfect location; a beautifully restored 18th century building with picturesque vignettes from the rooftop to the inner courtyards filled with quintessential Moroccan details. The owner, Mohamed Bouskri, granted me access to the whole Riad for my shoot.

In the courtyard with Mohamed Bouskri.

SUE woven hobo in camel.

These images are exactly what I had envisioned and I couldn’t be more pleased at how they turned out. Modern, alluring, feminine and chic are the attributes I like to associate with the Rafe brand. There are many more that I will share all throughout the season but here is a preview of what’s coming.

Jullian small tote crossbody in Gold iridescent.

Jullian small crossbody tote in cognac.

Shukran jazilan lak ( Thank you very much! ) to my dream team : photographer Mehdi Sabik, fashion model Sara Morbi and make-up artist Jeff Ernoult.

Check out the rest of the images on the website and perhaps you’ll consider adding one of these styles to your Fall looks.

Can I tell you...about Vianca Soleil.

On one cold day this past winter I was scrolling through Instagram and virtually escaping the reality of winter in East Coast when I happened to see a photo that immediately transported me to where I wanted to be. Vianca Soleil’s feed is full of dreamy images of her life on the beach. We started following each other and immediately formed a connection with our love for nature, the sea and seashells.

She has been working on finishing Unna, a eco-resort her family owns whilst designing furniture and doing some photography work. Construction work on the property has been very slow due to pandemic restrictions. They hope to be open as soon as it’s safer but that may not be until 2022. In the meantime, I will keep wanderlusting after her images.

Whilst designing my Spring Summer 2021 collection, I kept referencing images from Vianca’s Instagram. I was so inspired by her vision and her life. She fueled my desire to escape. The Vianca bucket tote is constructed from hand-woven abaca embellished with real fan shells, straw embroidery and trimmed with leather handles and a detachable long strap.

I asked Vianca a few questions about what’s on her mind these days and what inspires her.

1.    What is your idea of happiness? Living by the sea.

2.    What is your greatest extravagance? Travel is probably my greatest extravagance. I crave to keep exploring places and don’t mind spending a little extra on unusual experiences.

3.    What is your current state of mind? Finding balance.

4.    Whose style do you most admire? Christophe Lemaire and Sarah Linh Tran are creating the most inspiring collections at Lemaire. 

5.    What do you consider your greatest achievement? Designing and building Unna. I consider it to be my life’s work. I see it as my greatest achievement because my father would’ve wanted me to achieve my wildest dream and I’d like to think I’m beginning to reach it.

6.    What is your most treasured possession? My mom’s mother of pearl clutch from the 80s.

7.    Who is your favorite writer? Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

8.    Which living person do you most admire? I’m fascinated by Buddhist culture and have always admired the Dalai Lama.

9.    Where is your dream destination? Dreaming of a trip to Egypt, Israel and Jordan!

10. What is your motto? My dad would always say, the best is yet to come.

If you like the #ViancaBucketTote or another bag from the new collection, use the code RAFELOVES at checkout and receive a 20% reduction.

Offer only valid for US residents and good until April 18, 2021.

www.rafe.com

Can I tell you...about the Rafe New York Fall / Winter 2020 collection.

Nikki vanity case in black mock-croc leather.

by Isabella Martinez

 A collection reminiscent of the sleek geometric motifs of the Art Deco movement, the Rafe New York fall and winter 2020 collection is filled with rich textures and jewel tones masterfully paired with embossed leathers, shell inlay, supple suedes, and panne’ velvet.

SOFIA Octagon Clutch in teal.

When asked about the inspiration behind the collection, the Creative Director and Founder Rafe Totengco explained, “I’ve always embraced the vintage aesthetic and this collection draws  a lot from muses like Bianca Jagger and Sayoko Yamaguchi as well as designs from the 1940’s when women carried elegant vanity cases and wrist purses.” 

AUDREY Beaded Pouch in black / gold / silver.

A poetic ode to the powerful tastemakers and rulebreakers of past generations, the designs of the Rafe fall and winter collection echo the individuality of the flapper girl and style of a 70s socialite. The New York based brand drew inspiration from the rich and exuberant embellishments of the past while paying homage to its very city with structured silhouettes akin to the Chrysler building.

JESS Box Clutch in black / gold / silver embossed leather and suede.

A poetic ode to the powerful tastemakers and rulebreakers of past generations, the designs of the Rafe fall and winter collection echo the individuality of the flapper girl and style of a 70s socialite. The New York based brand drew inspiration from the rich and exuberant embellishments of the past while paying homage to its very city with structured silhouettes akin to the Chrysler building.

NICOLE Bucket Bag in Green / Teal / Black.

Rich textures and jewel tones share the spotlight in embossed leathers, shell inlay, supple suedes and crushed velvet in Rafe’s fall and winter collection. Whether you’re looking for a statement clutch or a day-to-evening bag, you’ll find all of that and more this season.

Venus Minaudière in violet shell inlay.

An intersection of culture and architecture, Rafe breathes new life into the fashion industry with vibrant, polished accessories designed for the women with timeless style. Whether you’re looking for a statement clutch or a day-to-evening bag, you’ll find all of that and more in this season’s collection.

SOFIA Octagon Clutch in leopard sequins.

If you love any of the bags from the collection, we are offering a 20% reduction for our loyal subscribers. Use code : RAFELOVES at check out.

www.rafe.com

Can I tell you...about Nikki Huang.

Nikki Huang at home in Manila with her Nikki Vanity Case.

I met Nikki Huang a few years ago in Manila whilst having dinner with her parents, Anton and Nina, who are friends. At the time, she was taking a gap year before starting college and had joined her family’s retail empire to learn the ropes and get some real life work experience. I was impressed at how vibrant, curious and present she was all through-out our dinner. We subsequently followed each other on social media, as one does these days, and virtually stayed in touch. During that time she also started writing a column for Manila Bulletin, a national newspaper. Her topics ranged from life lessons, make up and fashion, women’s issues to profiling female role models. She eventually went to Boston University and is currently doing a double major in sociology and international relations / political science. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck worldwide Nikki flew back to the Philippines to be with her family.

The Nikki Vanity Case is inspired by her strength of character, individuality and innate style. The structured Hexagon silhouette takes its cues from the vanity cases women used to wear in in the 1950s. It has a built in mirror for those quick make up checks and is capacious enough to fit a modern woman’s essentials for a night on the town.

I asked Nikki a few questions that might reveal a little more about her than meets the eye.

What is your idea of happiness? 

It means understanding my purpose, my passions, and the intersection between those two things. It means having people, places, and ideas to live for, and values to live by. 

What is your greatest extravagance?

Perhaps expectedly, I spend the most on fashion. I also love jewelry, and my appreciation for jewelry both as fashion and investment pieces grows by the day. I’d say self care is right up there in terms of my extravagances too, as is travel. I love fine food, as well...just anything or any experience created with intent and attention to detail I am so fortunate that my parents are able and willing to support my journey with the best possible resources, and one of my biggest personal goals is to be able to one day be able to financially support the lifestyle I want to live. 

Nikki with her Nikki Vanity Case in New York. photo by Selwyn Tungol

Whose style do you most admire?

When I was beginning in fashion, I admired a lot of the bloggers I saw online. Now, as I discover more about who I am and who I want to be in the fashion world and beyond it, I admire Kate Middleton, Amal Clooney, Princess Diana, Grace Kelly. I value their timeless elegance. The same goes for my fashion idols from the East - both Gemma Chan in real life and her onscreen character, Astrid, are major fashion - and life- inspiration. I admire what these women embody, not just how they dress. My search for fashion inspiration has definitely grown over time. Instead of looking for people whose outfits I admire, I look for those whose life, values, and attitude I believe in. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

I feel like I’ve been fortunate enough to have experiences that have resulted in a pretty colourful resume-and life story- for someone my age. Of and for that, I’m proud and grateful. At the same time, I don’t think any of the things I’ve done that look good on paper are what I’d consider my greatest achievement. I think, to date, my greatest achievement is how I balanced receiving top marks in a sociology seminar at Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences with attending NYFW on the weekends. I remember it was a time where I ran on very little sleep! I would do my readings in the car between Boston and New York, and in between shoots and shows. I managed to score highly in class and have a pretty successful first NYFW...of this, I am very proud because it was a time where I was able to juggle all my responsibilities even when it seemed impossible. From that experience, I learned just how important it is to me to be able to do it all-or try! Something else that comes to mind is that I am extremely proud of how I have been able to develop and connect with my inner truth over time. Because I continually make it a priority to listen to myself, follow to my gut, but also consider and prioritize the opinions of my loved ones, I am happy to say that I am on a life path that feels exactly right. I feel like I live with so much purpose and direction; it is something I am equal parts proud of and grateful for every day.

What is your favorite writer?

I’d like to cite James Joyce, Michel Foucault, and Kevin Kwan as the first ones that come to mind, all for various reasons.  

Which living person do you most admire?

I don’t idolize anyone. I never have, and I don’t think I ever will. I think I am too focused on who I am and who I want to be to idolize someone else’s life, and it’s something that has served me well. I always remind my sister, too, that she can look up to people but that she should never strive to “be” like anyone. Instead, I think it is more productive and more fulfilling to focus on being the best version of yourself, such that you are growing every day. 

Where is your dream destination?

I definitely want to go back to Italy or Greece. I love the undeniable chicness and style in Milan, the hospitality of Greece, the appreciation for art, food, and life well lived in both places. 

What is your motto? 

“I don’t feel that it is necessary to know exactly who I am. The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning” - Michel Foucault. 

Nikki Huang in New York. photo by Selwyn Tungol