Beautiful Brand Spotlight: Rafe New York Handbags
In our ongoing Beautiful Brand Series, we spotlight brands that embrace beautiful design and thoughtful craftsmanship. Discover Rafe New York handbags – beautiful works of art steeped in Filipino craftsmanship and heritage.
At Rafe New York, every handbag is a story told in form and light—where heritage craft converges with architectural design to create objects that transcend the notion of accessory. At the heart of the collection is the minaudière, a jewel-box evening bag first popularized in 1930s Paris and reimagined by Rafe as a modern artifact: faceted frames softened by the shimmer of capiz or mother-of-pearl, each one shaped by more than seventy hours of artisan work. Alongside these luminous pieces are clutches, totes, and day-to-evening bags, where abaca weaving, shell inlay, and architectural lines transform functionality into art. These designs have captured the attention of style icons like Olivia Palermo and Kate Bosworth, and have even made their way onscreen—from Simone Ashley’s Met Gala scene in The Devil Wears Prada 2 to Carrie Bradshaw’s chic looks in And Just Like That.
Read on for an exploration of Rafe New York’s illustrious origins, the refined craftsmanship that defines each handbag, and the visionary artistry of its founder.
Where creativity lives, beauty follows.
Founder Rafe Totengco
Founded in 1997, Rafe New York is rooted in the bicultural lens of Rafé Totengco. Growing up in Manila, he was surrounded by the shimmer of capiz windows and the natural beauty of native shells like kabibe and mother-of-pearl. When he later moved to New York, his world expanded to the sharp lines of skyscrapers, the glamour of nightlife, and the eclectic mix of cultures that define the city. That duality of natural beauty and cosmopolitan edge became the DNA of his brand, rooted in rich heritage.
And at the center of his vision sits the minaudière. Traditionally designed to hold only the essentials, a minaudière is both accessory and adornment, more akin to a piece of jewelry than a handbag. In Rafe’s hands, it becomes something greater: an artful object of architecture and heritage, carried not just as a vessel for belongings, but as a story in motion.
Totengco often describes his work as a dialogue between architecture, art, and light. His minaudières reference Art Deco geometry, Bauhaus balance, and tropical modernism, while his choice of materials reflects both tradition and innovation: polished shells, woven raffia, metallic accents, and woods that create contrast and texture. His seasonal collections often draw inspiration from various eras and artistic movements. Whether inspired by art deco silhouettes or the glamor of Studio 54 and Helmut Newton’s photography capturing the vibrancy of New York City’s nightlife, Totengco aims to bring these themes to life through the lens of craftsmanship.
Why It’s Uncommon
Rafe New York stands apart for its unique blend of heritage craft and architectural design. Each handbag is meticulously handcrafted in the Philippines using centuries-old techniques. The result is a collection of minaudières, clutches, and totes that feel less like accessories and more like modern heirlooms: glamorous, enduring, and deeply tied to cultural heritage.
Hours of Craft in Every Clutch
Every minaudière begins with shells—mother-of-pearl, capiz, or abalone—carefully sorted, cut, and inlaid piece by piece onto an aluminum frame. Afterward, each surface is machine-sanded and hand-buffed for hours to achieve its luminous finish. The process takes anywhere from 40 to 70 hours, with every stage overseen by master artisans who carry generations of knowledge in their hands. Take, for example, the Sirena Scallop Shell Minaudière, crafted from Lion’s Paw scallop shells harvested from Philippine waters. Its wooden gusset mirrors the gentle undulations of the shell, and each clasp is set with semi-precious stone. Equally intricate, the LOVE Minaudière transforms the Kabibe shell into a heart silhouette. Even Rafe New York’s more minimalistic silhouettes, like the Chriselle Flapper and the Megan Shell, are an artful labor of love.
Heritage Reimagined
Production is rooted in the Philippines, where skilled artisans translate time-honored crafts into clean, modern silhouettes. In some collections, these techniques are paired with Italian hardware or Indian beadwork, creating pieces that bridge cultures while honoring their origins. The result is a design language where heritage is honored but continually reinterpreted.
Design Language
Rafe’s design language blends the geometry of New York architecture with the radiance of Philippine craft, creating minaudières that feel like architectural sculptures. Faceted Art Deco silhouettes and modern, tropical designs are brought to life through materials chosen for the way they catch or temper light. Sequins are hand-stitched to refract like sunlight, while polished shells and wood ground the shimmer in texture. The result is glamor that feels daring, not ostentatious—pieces defined by dualities: effortless to carry, painstaking to create; modern in silhouette, timeless in technique.
A Beautiful Brand Worth Shopping
Rafe New York belongs on the Beautiful Brand roster because it embodies what this series celebrates: craftsmanship elevated to art, heritage carried forward through design, and beauty that resists disposability. Each handbag—whether an artful minaudière, a woven tote, or a sculptural clutch—reflects more than seventy hours of artisanal labor, centuries-old Filipino techniques, and a design language shaped by both cultural memory and modern architecture. To own a Rafe handbag is to hold not just an accessory, but a piece of history, craft, and enduring style.
