San Diego artist’s textiles weave Filipino heritage and traditions
(FOX 5/KUSI) — In the hands of France Malvar, silk becomes more than fabric; it becomes a story. Dipped in natural dyes and rich with meaning, each piece she creates under her brand, Lu France Interiors, speaks to her heritage, her memories, and a growing sense of belonging.
“I named it as such because it stems from an afternoon walk with my husband,” Malvar said, describing the inspiration behind one of her hand-dyed textiles. “The sky was blue and then it was nighttime—that’s why the base is blue and then you see sunset colors.”
Raised in Manila and now based in San Diego, Malvar draws on childhood memories and Filipino traditions to create her plant-based dyed textiles.
“I grew up in Quezon City, which is in Manila,” she said. “I’ve always been drawn to having a creative outlet, and I think it really stems from my mom.”
But before she was an artist, Malvar was a teacher. She spent 14 years in early childhood education.
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“I loved being a teacher,” she recalled. “I taught toddlers through kindergarten at different phases of my career.”
It wasn’t until the pandemic in 2020 that she decided to pursue her creative passions full time.
That leap led to the founding of Lu France Interiors in October 2020—a textile business rooted in natural materials and the Filipino language.
Her work became a personal bridge back to her roots, and that bridge eventually grew wider.
In 2022, Malvar launched Merkado Kultura, a curated marketplace showcasing the work of Filipino makers.
One of those is Cecelia Fernandez, who started her jewelry brand So Niice in 2023.
For years, she said, she tried to minimize her heritage, unsure how it would be received. “I was still hiding it,” she admits. But through France and Merkado Kultura, she found belonging and boldness.
“I am a Filipino American and I make these pieces,” Fernandez now says proudly, holding up her handcrafted Ako necklace—Ako meaning “me” in Filipino.
Together, the two women now lead hands-on workshops and inspire others to embrace their roots, their artistry, and their identity. “It’s very important that my success should also be someone else’s success,” Malvar says. “There are so many Filipino creatives—we can be many things.”
As she dips another scarf into dye, watching it slowly shift from white to a deep, purplish gray, she reflects on the journey. Some things take time to find their true color.
Merkado Kultura is more than a market—it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, community and culture. Its next major event is October 11 and 12 at the La Atalaya Theater at the Mingei Museum.
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