An everyday bag in the form of a pusô, a palm leaf woven into a 3D geometric shape that traditionally serves as the container for hanging rice, is the piece de resistance of Cebuano brand Pusô Atelier. Here, visionary and founder Mikhail Achas shares the intricacies of the distinctive collection and what’s next for the brand.
Starting his career as a bridal designer, Mikhail always wanted to create a brand that could tell authentic Cebuano stories. “I’m born and raised in Cebu so I have seen the versatility of the pusô. You can see it being served at a pungko-pungko, a barbecue station, or at a tuslob buwa and you can also see it served at a grand fiesta,” Mikhail shares. “The beauty of it is that it is being shared by everyone in different walks of life (…) So I see it as an equalizer in Cebuano society.”
The idea for a bag that resembled a pusô started as a project to create a bridal bag.
“My aim was to make a very Cebuano bridal bag. But when I first had the successful prototype, I figured that it should be more than just for bridal.”
Mikhail added, “Fortunately I [was] displaying at some hotels, so I thought it would be a beautiful pasalubong piece. Then I posted my prototype online and got so many inquiries, so I guess it could be an everyday statement bag.”
The Pusô Binaki bag is definitely a conversation starter: with larger sizes accommodating practical needs, and yet, Mikhail shares that it is the smallest-sized bags that turn out to be bestsellers—reflecting the current vogue for impractical mini bags.
“I have made the bag in bigger sizes to accommodate more things for functionality,” Mikhail explains. “The funny thing is, our best seller is the smallest size, and it can barely fit a smartphone. But my clients love it because it looks cute to bring to parties.”
The trendsetting bag was featured in this year’s Bodega Caravan at the Visayas Art Fair, which presented Pusô Atelier to a wider audience. Mikhail shares that the highlight of the Visayas Art Fair experience was being able to meet prospective customers in person.
“It was the first time I personally met my interested clients since I have been interacting with them online,” Mikhail said. “It was so flattering to meet them and to receive comments like, one of the main reasons they visited the pop-up was to see and purchase the bag.”
“I actually did not expect the response to be so positive, it was quite overwhelming. A lot of [the customers] shared their experiences through social media posts and stories, which overwhelmed our Instagram and messenger channels.”
Meeting clients in person provided valuable insights, influencing future developments for Mikhail. The overwhelming response and direct feedback from customers fueled the brand’s creative evolution. “After the pop-up, I already had a lot of ideas for the new development of the bag, and most of them came from the customers that we chatted with when they visited our booth.”
In the upcoming year ahead, Pusô Atelier is gearing up for a promising future. New functionality features, such as slings, backpacks, and pockets, are in the works.
“We are also finalizing the prototype for the Pusô Kinasing, which is the diamond-shaped pusô,” Mikhail added. “We are also prototyping new materials for the bags like pure leather, vegan leather from vegetable byproducts, and local hand-woven fabrics.”
Pusô Atelier is also reportedly planning to venture into urban resort clothing. “We are also venturing to urban resort clothing, which I aim to be gender, age, size, and shape inclusive. We are actually working with Anthill Fabric Gallery in infusing ethically sourced local weaves.”
As the brand evolves, Pusô Atelier is poised to be a dynamic force, weaving Cebuano stories into every design, creating not just bags but memorable pieces that embody the essence of an exuberant culture.
“Our goal is to make everything that we produce at the Pusô Atelier as a distinct Cebuano fashion piece, that represents our Cebuano identity and proudly tells our unique Cebuano heritage.”
“Cebu is very unique and has a lot of stories that we can tell. We are setting up the Pusô Atelier as a platform and venue for those narratives to be shared,” Mikhail explains.
As a brand championing Cebuano culture and artistry, Pusô Atelier transcends the realm of mere accessories, becoming a curator of artifacts that embody the essence of a vibrant heritage. Pusô Atelier not only crafts bags but, more importantly, uses its pieces to magnify Cebuano identity, proudly representing the spirit of Cebuano narratives and promising a future adorned with more tales of creativity, inclusivity, and timeless tradition.
Photography Kyrra Kho
