You Need to Know These 3 Sustainable Artisans in MoCAF 2025!
From fragrance to wardrobe, these Filipino artisans are merging creativity with environmentally conscious designs.
Words Mian Centeno
Photos courtesy of Derek Pedrialva
July 11, 2025
In an era defined by fast trends and inconsistency, a bold wave of Filipino artisans is stepping up to champion mindful living. By transforming waste into art and daily sustainable essentials, brands like Lumi Candles PH, Carry Om, and RIOtaso are reimagining creativity through the lens of environmental responsibility.
Flame with a purpose
What began as a passion project in 2020 has evolved into a conscious lifestyle brand centered on relaxation and sustainability. Lumi Candles PH goes beyond fragrance—it's a complete evolution in how we live and consume.
Handcrafted by Filipino artisans, each Lumi product is made with 100% soy wax, phthalate-free fragrance oils, and wrapped in recyclable packaging, accompanied by handwritten notes that thread personal connection and sustainability together.
"It's a brand whose goal isn't just to sell, but lead a lifestyle movement," says Marketing Lead Rhea Gaitero of Lumi Candles PH, creating products surrounding creativity.
Carry Om's Conscious Closet
At Carry Om, sustainability is stitched into every seam. The brand transforms surplus fabrics and factory overruns into bold, limited-edition garments that challenge fast fashion's wasteful habits.
"The design must be sustainable and must last long," Dhanvan Saulo, co-founder of the brand, shares their vision. Each item is carefully crafted with intention—prioritizing quality, longevity, and environmental responsibility.
Carry Om advocates for mindful consumption, encouraging a deeper connection to what we choose to put on our bodies.
Piece purposely together
Rio Cuervo of RIOtaso flips fabric scraps into bold, one-of-one wearable art. She began her fashion journey by painting thrifted clothes, eventually transitioning to upcycling textile waste into statement garments.
Her work is driven by a strong environmental purpose. "It's [fashion] what I love, but it contributes so much to environmental issues," Rio says. "I didn't want to add to the waste."
By repurposing leftover fabrics, Rio creates pieces that merge style and sustainability. Each design is a clear, creative, and conscious response to fast fashion.
In a time when the world needs both beauty and responsibility, Lumi Candles PH, Carry OM, and RIOtaso remind us that what we create and how we create matter. Together, these artisans are shaping a culture rooted in purpose and environmental responsibility, proving that sustainability is not a trend—it is a lifestyle.
