Meet your new must-have accessory: the Rafé x Mestiza Solihiya Clutch. For the second spring in a row, Mestiza is teaming up with longtime friend of the brand, Rafe Totengco, to bring you two all-new effortlessly chic bags. Check out our Q&A with Rafe below to discover more about this stunning, heritage-inspired collaboration!

What was it like to collaborate with Alessandra and Louisa to design a new handbag for the Spring '25 Collection?

I love it when work doesn’t feel like work and that’s exactly how I felt collaborating with Alessandra and Louisa, ideas flow and it’s effortless.

The handbags arrival comes at the 10 year anniversary of Mestiza New York. You've been connected to Alessandra throughout the years due to your shared Filipino heritage, and collaborated with the brand over the years. How do you view this milestone as someone who has supported the brand over the years?

It’s an incredible achievement and a testament to their determination, hard work, talent and business savvy.  As Jeff Bezos famously said, “It takes 10 years to be an overnight success.”

Alessandra and Louisa pictured with Rafè Totengco at Mestiza's 10 Year Celebration

What was the inspiration behind the bags, and where do you envision customers wearing it?

I have always loved working with materials and elements that remind me of my childhood and so does Alessandra. During one of our design meetings she pulled out a “solhiya” print. Coincidentally, I was also using a Solhiya weave in rattan for my own collection. Solihiya is a traditional Filipino weaving technique that uses rattan strips to create intricate patterns on furniture. It was kismet.