AMARIE

Beyond fashion and sustainability, luxury resortwear brand Amarie celebrates Philippine culture by converting indigenous traditions to a wearable setting, creating an opportunity to celebrate age-old craftsmanship in daily modern life.

The brand was born from creative director Anna Marie Saguil’s deep-dive into Filipino embroidery and desire to promote ethical fashion. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Apparel and Textiles from the University of California, Davis, she later took up fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco before working in the industry in New York. When she returned to the Philippines,  she swiftly conquered the local fashion scene with her clothing brand Mosaic. But she knew that fashion could go beyond what one wears; thus, her mission led her to partner with artisans who are skilled in time-honored embroidery styles, giving many women in far-flung rural areas a stable livelihood.

A pioneer of conscious fashion in the Philippines, Amarie has offered these women and their craft a global stage and a lifeline via fashion-forward resort pieces that appeal to the sensibilities of cosmopolites. Every Amarie piece hints at the tropical inclinations of young urban Filipinos, flaunting light fabrics with heavily embroidered details. Each one a statement on fashion as it is a statement on Philippine culture. 

For FAME+, Amarie is exhibiting its signature resortwear inspired by the Barong Tagalog: 100% linen, cotton, or ramie with beautiful calado embroidery. There are easy-to-wear coordinates, breathtaking tunics with decorative tassels, and breezy chambray sets. Also available are reusable linen face masks lined with breathable cotton blend fabric and equipped with filter pockets, which were launched in the midst of the pandemic. Despite the slowdown of businesses in the last few months, Amarie has continued to be accessible to customers via its website.

Anna Marie has been recognized for her work both on and off fashion. She has been part of Philippine Tatler’s prestigious 400 List. In 2019, the same magazine also included her in its list of 10 Filipinas Who Have Made A Mark On The Philippine Fashion Industry, noting that she “has not only created an appealing fusion between modern styles and traditional craftsmanship, but she has also made a difference in the lives of local artisans and elevated their craft to wearable fashion art.”