Benguet Jewelry
Benguet Province is where the Cordillera mountains meet the coast, the famed rice terraces grow, and stories of resistance come alive.
In pre-colonial times, the Philippines had a mythical reputation as the “Islands of Gold". Indigenous peoples wore intricate gold jewelry as signs of distinction, which quickly caught the attention of Spanish colonizers. Rich in natural resources, Benguet continues to be a site of resistance as local communities and Indigenous peoples battle foreign mining companies in the struggle to reclaim the land.
Resistance also comes in the form of heritage, as traditional plateros (metalsmiths) strive to protect their craft. Our Benguet Jewelry Collection is brought to you by a Nanay and Tatay team of plateros who are keeping the craft of gold filigree alive.