from head to HANDS

The HALOHALO world endures, because it stands on organic ground. Creative director and principal designer CARA MIA LIMJAP tells us the tale of its journey.

- TICIA ALMAZAN

CARA MIA LIMJAP STEPS OUT OF THE PANTRY, her mischievous eyes and cheeky smile nearly distracting us from what's in her hands. Once she reaches our team on the other end of the room, she proudly propositions: "Guys, may I offer you some halo-halo?"

In hindsight, the referential dessert shouldn't have come as a surprise. After all, we were in halohalo's studio, an enclave that houses the fashion and lifestyle brand Cara built with her brother Rocco Sumabat. Known for their contemporary interpretations of banig (traditional Filipino handwoven mat), halohalo offers bags, homeware, and accessories in festive candy-colored weaves. With air conditioners, light fixtures, and the entire comfort room wrapped in the material, the studio is a world of its own. The chilled dessert, random as it seemed, was not at all out of place. It felt natural to the setting; a sentiment that frequently rings true when it comes to Halohalo.