Casa Juan X Rajo Laurel tea sets highlight the designer’s sketches of ternos as a central theme.
It has been an absolute joy to witness the journey to success of top designer Rajo Laurel. Unknown to many, Rajo and I have been friends since our youth, and I’ve actually seen him evolve through many career milestones.
I remember him as a young, starry-eyed apprentice to designer Louie Mamengo when he dressed me up for the finals of the Look of the Year competition back in ’89. In the ‘90s, while he was a mentee to the legendary Pepito Albert, I, together with the Professional Models Association of the Philippines, produced his very first gala show, which helped launched him to fashion stardom. A few years later, we also worked closely as fellow judges for Project Runway Philippines for all four seasons. And through the decades, I’ve donned his creations as his muse or when attending Manila’s countless balls.
While I’ve moved on to pursue a different career path, Rajo continues to hone and elevate his beloved craft, constantly surprising the industry with fresh ideas and iconic designs. Case in point, the “Love Letter” kimona and its many incarnations.
As he celebrates his 30th year in fashion, I dare say that Rajo is possibly one of, if not the most, renowned Filipino designers today. His creations are worn by celebrities like Bretman Rock, Pia Wurtzbach and Dolly de Leon plus stylish Filipinas Em Aglipay-Villar and Pam Quiñones, to name a few. He is also a TV personality and currently appears in Drag Race Philippines as resident judge.
You’d think that this trailblazer would choose to rest on his laurels (no pun intended) to enjoy the fruits of his hard work. But in true Rajo style, he tirelessly forges new ground in the design field, this time through a collaboration with fine Filipino homeware label Casa Juan.
Rajo’s tableWEAR
The partnership between Rajo and Casa Juan Founder Michelle Asensce Fontelera, started in 2020, during the pandemic. Rajo’s striking sketches caught Michelle’s eye as she scrolled through Instagram, and this inspired her to create a collection of plates that would put Filipino creativity centerstage.
Rajo loved the idea of seeing his designs on fine bone China. “Michelle and I enjoy having friends over and making them feel special,” he says. “Part of this is preparing beautiful tablescapes. So it was natural that we created pieces that enhance the entertaining experience.”
Aptly called “tableWEAR,” the first collection immediately sold out online. Soon after, a second set of plates, featuring illustrations of other signature designs by Rajo, was launched in 2022 and quickly sold out as well. Both editions are now regarded by discerning hosts as collectibles.
Given the raging success of the first two collections, Rajo and Michelle are bringing something new to the table with the launch of a limited edition tea set. “A lot of our clients who purchased the plates were looking for cups and saucers to go with their Casa Juan X Rajo tableWEAR. This new collection allows them to enjoy a complete line of dinnerware pieces,” shares Michelle.
Like the plates, the tea sets also highlight Rajo’s sketches, specifically of the terno as a central theme, as well as designs he created for a fashion show for Jewelmer, a Filipino jewelry brand. And here’s a head’s up—only 700 tea sets from Casa Juan by Rajo Laurel will be produced, which make them even more special.
“With these tea sets, I would like to remind everyone to stop, take a pause and enjoy the beautiful things in life. Establish connections by carving time out for each other by sharing a meal, or in this case, coffee or tea,” adds Rajo.
The Casa Juan X Rajo partnership is clearly another feather in this designer’s well-adorned cap. And at the rate things are unfolding, I’m ready to sit back and watch with utmost pleasure as Rajo conquers his next 30 years.
The CASA JUAN X RAJO LAUREL Limited Edition Tea Sets are available at www.casajuan.ph or through Instagram @casajuanmnl.
