Aian Raquel

Aian Raquel is a Filipino creative director and designer known for his contemporary interpretation of indigenous Ilocano heritage. Based between the Philippines and New York City, he leads cultural tourism initiatives as Department Head of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office, developing circuits that earned the province two National Best Tourism-Oriented Province awards.
In 2016, he founded MAKA Collective, a fashion startup bridging traditional Filipino textiles with modern aesthetics. He recently completed his Master of Arts in Exhibition and Experience Design from FIT, where he won the Department Medal and received the SEGD Scholarship and Designing for Empathy Student Awards. He also serves as creative director for major cultural festivals in his region.
Raquel’s work demonstrates how cultural heritage drives innovation and sustainable development, earning him recognition as Outstanding Ilocano for Creative Industries in 2022.