The Royal Atlas Bag by Ar. Royal Pineda for FINO Leatherware was designed and crafted as a “tactile map of life” and badge of Filipino identity
It began with a photo.
The collaboration between FINO Leatherware and renowned Filipino architect, Royal Pineda, began with a photograph. In 2025, Dr. Rommela Bautista received a photo from a friend. It was of Royal Pineda in Germany. The architect celebrated for pioneering Modern Filipino architecture, was standing on a curb, a leather FINO Overnighter in tow.
“For someone of his caliber, it was striking and refreshing to me that Royal would choose a locally-made bag over the usual luxury brands. Here was a guy who truly understands what it’s like to be a local brand. After seeing that photo, I immediately had this idea of inviting him to do a collaboration with us,” Dr. Bautista remembers.
Ar. Pineda has always been a patron of the brand. “I have always been impressed by the premium leatherwork and attention to detail. I would later find out that this clinical precision is attributed to Rommel who is an eye surgeon.”
A meeting of the minds
Dr. Bautista and Ar. Pineda met for the first time in May 2025. The initial encounter lasted for hours, as both shared their sensibilities, explored creative possibilities, and exchanged ideas. “Initially, I wanted him to work with waxed cotton,” Dr. Bautista reveals. But Ar. Pineda had other ideas.
“I always design things that are relatable to me, something that I can use everyday. In that sense, I think of myself as the end-user at the start of any design process,” says Ar. Pineda. “As an architect, I wanted something that I can use everyday–from the site to the office, the city to the airport and other destinations. Functionality is very important for me.”
When Ar. Pineda presented his concept for an everyday bag that could carry his essentials, Dr. Rommel was pleasantly surprised. “Royal is passionate about being Filipino,” he notes. “When he showed us his concept, he began to talk about weaving as an intrinsic part of our culture, even before all the mega brands began to use them in their products.”
A Tribute to Form, Movement, and Meaning
The Royal Atlas Bag was initially conceived as the consummate “architect’s bag.” It is a tribute to form, movement, and meaning that echoes the shared values of both FINO Leatherware and Royal Pineda. It honors a rich heritage in leather craftsmanship, that is proudly and distinctly Filipino. The bag also mirrors a human-centric design philosophy that guides Ar. Pineda’s practice–nature of things, nature is peace, man is nature, variety of the world, and practical luxury.
Crafting each bag is not about the pursuit of perfection. It is an on-going exercise in honoring the nuanced and unique attributes of the material. Working with full-grain natural leather, the team is always intentional about allowing fine skins to naturally breathe, move, crease, and soften..
Drawing from the ancient Pasiking, a traditional carrier made of rattan, nito, and bamboo, often used by the indigenous people of the Cordilleras, the Royal Atlas was designed for function and movement. Royal Pineda expounds: “We named it the Royal Atlas because of how it relates to maps and travel. The bag was meant to be a travelling companion that carries the identity of the Filipino. It is always moving, but deeply rooted in identity.” Ar. Pineda also relates that during his high school years, he used to carry around a Pasiking bag.
Dr. Bautista reflects on the name and how it transports one to a time before GPS tracking. “It is nostalgic, but meant for the Modern Filipino traveller. That it is nostalgic also hints that it is artisanal and lovingly handmade.”
Every detail conceived for the Royal Atlas is imbued with purpose and meaning. From the stitching, weaving, down to the straps and logo ,all elements come together to tell a cohesive narrative about the Modern Filipino. “It is not just about aesthetics,” Ar. Pineda emphasizes. “It’s structure, dimension, depth all woven together. Every detail is formed by intention.”
Sides are tapered to follow the collection’s logo. The same goes for both the short and long, detachable straps, which are angled to form an A-shaped nautical divider. The leather weave is also framed by the bag’s silhouette.
The Royal Weave: Design in the Details
One of the most distinctive and striking features of the bag is its Royal Weave. “I was searching for something authentic and came across the ancient weaving skills of Filipinos,” Ar. Pineda intimates. He gravitated towards the pre-colonial (pre-1565) weaving traditions of the Cordilleras, more specifically in creating the Pasiking bag. “I was not interested in repeating other leather weaving patterns that other brands were already doing,” he clarifies.
FINO Leatherware’s bag-making savoir-faire is crucial to bringing this design to life. The Royal Weave is achieved by individually punching slots on a panel of full-grain leather. Dr. Bautista discloses that each bag demands the highest level of craft, precision, and dexterity. “A trained eye will fully appreciate and understand the level of workmanship that goes into each bag. Punching the leather takes several days to complete. You cannot commit any errors otherwise the entire panel of leather is wasted. It is also important to understand that choosing the right kind of leather is important.” It takes four times the amount of leather to create one Royal Atlas Bag. For it to be lightweight and to achieve that slouch, the leathers must be pliable and buttery soft, with just the right amount of density.
Strips of leather are then woven through the punched slots. According to Dr. Bautista, this makes the bag more water-resistant. “This technique also allows the leather to breathe. It also gives it more depth and dimension where most of the leather weaves we see today are flat,” adds Ar. Pineda. “This weave also gives us space to create more variations and iterations as the collection grows.” The Royal Weave is configured in the diagonal. “This follows the flow of the weave where lines echo each other.”
A Tactile Map For The Modern Filipino
The Royal Atlas is above all a product of Modern Filipino design. Apart from the Royal Atlas Overnighter, the maiden collection will include: the Atlas Clutch, Atlas Crossbody, and Atlas Tote.
“It is for creative Filipinos who are proud to carry their identity through cities, airports, studios, and landscapes. We were intentional about making it distinguished yet still casual. It is honest, relaxed, and lived in. There is nothing pretentious or flashy about the bag. It carries the Modern Filipino sensibility with conviction and dignity. I wanted to create a bag that we can truly call ours.”
More than a commodity or another piece to add to one’s bag collection, the Royal Atlas represents the story of a Filipino in constant motion. Navigating cities, traversing coasts, and crossing oceans. At the head of boardrooms, at work in studios, and all the places in-between.
And for each and everyone one of these unique journeys, there remains one true compass and true north: IDENTITY.
Pieces from the Atlas collection will run in limited quantities. Orders may be placed through FINO Leatherware stores.
