Rajo Laurel designs more fashion for your table
After his two sold-out “dinnerwear” collections, fashion designer Rajo Laurel has collaborated once again with local tableware company Casa Juan to launch cup-and-saucer sets bearing his fashion sketches.
“We launched his first collection in 2021 during the pandemic — so basically this was a pandemic project,” notes Casa Juan founder Michelle Fontelera. “And then it got sold out because our Rajo collections are just limited editions. We launched the second collection last year, which also got sold out.
“So now, due to popular demand, we are launching his cup-and-saucer sets also in time for his 30th year in the fashion industry. This was Rajo’s project when he was five years old,” Fontelera added, to laughter from the guests.
Rajo says they called his collections “tablewear” “because obviously, my roots are in fashion. And the collection began by Michelle just calling my partner Nix (Alañon), and I said, ‘Yes, of course!’ And we translated them first into sketches. I sketch everything. Basically, I use a gouache ink and it was so nice that it got sold out during the pandemic fast, and we want to keep that integrity with the collection primarily because it is limited, it is special.”
The illustrations on the plates from his first two collections are a cross-section of designs that Laurel loves to do. “In fact, I have clients here who actually have dresses of these, like Linda (Ley) has this blouse, Marilu Batchelor has this dress, and Apples (Aberin) has worn this outfit.”
Another design is really special to him “because I love Tita Baby Fores, and this was sort of like inspired by her Claudio Bravo portrait. And when she passed on, I gave a set to her children.”
Ringing the new cups are iconic ternos that Rajo has made throughout the years, including the silver-fringed one Nadine Lustre won her Famas Best Actress award in last August. “It’s nice so when you’re having tea you can actually look at the dresses.”
Since his sketches are all in black and white, I ask why he decided not to inject any color into them.
“Because it’s like any wardrobe,” he replies. “I think black and white goes with everything. And I usually sketch in black and white. I add color when the client wants. It’s also easier.”
The other cup design consists of Rajo’s illustrations for his upcoming collaboration with Jewelmer. “This is actually the study of the jewelry that I’m doing for Jewelmer soon,” he reveals.
There are only 700 sets of the limited-edition Rajo Laurel x Casa Juan cup-and-saucer collection. Each boxed set contains two cups and two saucers.
“Fashion on your table, that’s what we call it,” says Michelle. “Rajo is the first fashion designer in the Philippines to have his own dinnerware.”
“What’s important to realize is that in this time of fast-paced lives, sometimes it’s really wonderful to just sit down, have a chat with a friend, have coffee, have tea, and just live in the moment,” Rajo says. “So these are these are tools in order for you to sort of like really stop, take a pause and enjoy your beautiful things.”
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The limited-edition Rajo Laurel x Casa Juan cup-and-saucer sets are available at www.casajuan.ph or Instagram @casajuanmnl.
