Heritage, craftsmanship, innovation – values that CFDA member Rafe Totengco shares with Mestiza New York, the luxury women’s apparel brand launched in 2015. To that end, Totengco’s brand, Rafe New York, is now collaborating with Mestiza – both are also both Filipino-owned – to create the first two handbags for Mestiza.

“We are thrilled 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,” Alessandra Perez-Rubio, who co-founded Mestiza New York with Louisa Rechter Takacs, said. “It is truly a full circle moment for me, getting the opportunity to partner with a fellow Filipino designer who paved the way.”

“Alessandra and I share a love for color, pattern, embellishment and frequently reference our heritage in our collections, so it was a no brainer to collaborate with Mestiza,” Totengco added. “I get them, and they get me.”

The two crossbody clutch bags merge Mestiza’s signature prints with Rafe’s iconic bag styles.

The pieces launch in January on www.mestizanewyork.com.