In a world that frequently hums with chaos and swift routine, taking a moment to pause and appreciate the little things in life is a treasured attempt. For this reason, one of the most prolific Filipino designers, Rajo Laurel, known for fusing luxury into everything he touches, has now added a new dimension to his creative repertoire: An exquisite tea set created in collaboration with Casa Juan.

From the runway to interiors and now to elegant dinnerware, Rajo Laurel excels in tailoring experiences and atmospheres through everyday objects. This collaboration with Casa Juan epitomizes his design philosophy, seamlessly melding fine plating with hand illustrations. It transforms the act of dining into an art form, showcasing a perfect blend of passion and luxury on your table.

The anticipation for this venture has been palpable since their initial partnership in 2020 when Casa Juan and Rajo Laurel joined forces to create a collection of plates featuring Rajo's iconic sketches.
Founder Michelle Asensce Fontelera shared, "Our first collaboration happened during the pandemic. The whole country was in lockdown, and I was scrolling through Instagram. It was there that Rajo's sketches caught my eye."

This gave rise to the idea to produce a line of plates that would highlight Filipino design and creativity.

After three years and two fruitful collaborations, Casa Juan and Rajo Laurel have created a limited-edition tea set that once more offers something fresh, completing the Casa Juan X Rajo tableWEAR line.

Fontelera also explained the motivation behind this expansion, stating, "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."

Elevating the everyday
Rajo Laurel envisioned enriching houses with beauty and comfort in response to the increasing trend of spending more time at home. He stresses that the cornerstone of a lovely home is an excellent table setup.

The tea sets, limited to just 700, embody this vision, portraying Rajo's sketches of the national dress, particularly focusing on the terno as a central theme—a celebration of national pride.

The tea sets will incorporate Rajo's sketches, just as the plate collection. The eminent clothes designer explains, "I practically sketch every day. The difficult part was choosing which sketch to immortalize.
I wanted each collection to be like a collectible. In a similar way to building a wardrobe, each collection is a special moment captured forever. I started with my iconic pieces and worked my way from there."

The national costume is depicted in Rajo's designs for the tea settings, with the terno serving as the main focus. "It's about national pride. Each sketch is the beginning of an idea like a seed. Having these ideas on fine bone China is really precious as it moves towards another aspect of creativity and design."

In an exclusive interview, Rajo Laurel revealed to the DAILY TRIBUNE, "The concept of the tableware is to pause a bit and enjoy the moment."

The tea sets, priced starting at P2,000 for a set of two cups and two saucers, revolve around a captivating black-and-white palette — a "wonderful combination" that adds to their allure of "rebirth of nationalism."

Legacy of artistry
Rajo Laurel's creative spirit knows no bounds. He shared that he thrives on taking on new challenges, furthering not only his growth as a designer but also as a person.

From corporate uniforms to bed linens, from perfumes to wedding cakes, his portfolio is a testament to the limitless possibilities of creativity.

Laurel imparts invaluable advice to aspiring designers, urging them to be mindful of their intentions, stay focused, and embrace the learning process.

As he approaches 30 years in the industry, he plans to showcase his expansive body of work through an exhibition, saying, 'I'll be showing my body of work, my career,' and hopes to pen down his experiences to 'pass on what I learn' and to guide the next generation of creatives."

Laurel's collaboration with Casa Juan adds a touch of sophistication to everyday dining, encouraging everyone to cherish the simple moments, one sip at a time.

Rajo Laurel expressed, "With these tea sets, I would like to advocate that we must enjoy the special moments we have with each other. Establish connections by carving time out for each other by sharing a meal, or in this case, coffee or tea. We hope to enhance these experiences by creating pieces that are not only beautiful but meaningful as well."