Kristin Villanueva and Amielynn Abellera at the SAG Awards after-party, carrying a Rafe New York Envelope Clutch. Courtesy of Rafe Totengco
From a late-night DM to a last-minute FedEx shipment, designer Rafe Totengco explains how his clutches made their way onto the SAG Awards red carpet with The Pitt’s Filipina stars.
At this year’s SAG Actor Awards, the night belonged to The Studio, Sinners, and The Pitt, the American medical drama praised for its documentary-style intensity and radical realism. The series, which immerses viewers in the lives of healthcare workers, won Best Ensemble in a Drama Series, while Noah Wyle took home Best Male Actor in a Drama Series.
When the cast stepped onstage to accept the award, Isa Briones, Kristin Villanueva, and Amielynn Abellera stood united, reflecting the presence and contributions of countless Filipino doctors, nurses, and healthcare practitioners around the world. Earlier on the red carpet, two of the three carried more than just evening essentials. In their hands were clutches by Rafe New York, the Manhattan-based accessories label founded by Filipino designer Rafe Totengco.
Totengco’s path to the SAG carpet began as one of the show’s millions of viewers. Watching at home with his husband, he remembers a scene that stopped him. “There were Filipino nurses in the show, and then, all of a sudden, there’s one scene, and they started speaking Tagalog. I was like, ‘wait, is that for real?’” Curious, he looked them up. “Oh my god, they actually are Filipina. Oh my god, like how amazing!”
He began following the actresses on Instagram and, about a month before awards season, reached out directly. “Listen, if you need any clutches during awards season, let me know. I’d be happy to loan you some. I have a PR person in LA who can meet with your stylists or coordinate whatever’s needed.” The initial reply was polite but noncommittal. “She just said, ‘Thank you, I’ll think about it,’ which is fine.”
Then, a week before the ceremony, the message arrived. “She messaged and said, ‘I’d like to take you up on your offer. I’m going to start a group chat with my stylist, Benjamin Holtrop, who’s Asian American as well.’” When Totengco asked about Amielynn Abellera, he realized another stylist was involved. “All of a sudden, you’re connecting the dots.” He contacted Jayson Cortez, his LA PR representative. “I asked him, ‘Do you know Sky [JT Naval]? He’s working with Amielynn.’”
The process was not without complications, involving last-minute coordination and urgent overnight FedEx shipments. The selections prepared for Isa Briones ultimately did not align with her outfit. As Totengco candidly shares, “None of the clutches worked with that dress…it would have been amazing all three of them. But you know, I’ll take what I can get. I’m happy with the two nurses.”
On the red carpet, Amielynn wore a Vaishali Couture gown and carried an envelope silhouette. “It’s called the Candy Clutch, embellished with tiny, tiny micro rhinestones all over in a champagne colour, which is quite neutral. It’s a dazzling addition to anyone’s wardrobe.” Kristin chose the Bilbao Architectural Minaudiere with her OUMA Couture Atelier dress, featured in the December 2025 Issue. “It’s a curvy clutch… completely done in stainless steel and mother pearl inlay.”
For Totengco, seeing his designs on the red carpet signified more than visibility for his label; it represented something deeper and more communal. “This is literally the meaning of ‘kapwa,’ bringing everything together, bringing everybody together as Filipinos. I was super excited about that.” When the show claimed its win, the triumph felt shared. “I felt like I’d won as well.”
