October is Filipino American History Month, meaning there’s no better time to support some Pinoy-owned small businesses. Read on for a list of four shops making waves in home decor, food, and accessories.
Lu France Interiors
Good design is never rushed. This is the main principle of Lu France Interiors, a home goods brand based in San Diego. The owner, France, works with makers and artisans worldwide to curate handmade pieces that warm the heart and the home.
Many of France’s creations pay homage to her childhood in the Philippines. Take the Dama De Noche candle, which has a sweet jasmine scent reminiscent of her parents’ garden. France also collaborated with Anthill, a social enterprise organization in Cebu, to create a pillow collection with handwoven Philippine textiles.
Lu France Interiors carries several other items, like wood crafts and ceramics, but the signature pieces are naturally dyed silks. The “Kaya” silk, named after a Filipino word that means “capable,” represents France’s shift to design after 14 years in education. The silk itself is beautiful, with gray, purple, and red blooms bursting over the fabric.
After browsing France’s collections, it’s easy to see that her shop is intentional, thoughtful, and rooted in love.
Shop Lu France Interiors.
Filiflavors
Food is a huge part of Filipino culture, but it can be hard to find specialty ingredients or snacks outside of the Philippines. Bianca, who was born in Manila but moved to California a few years ago, recognized this issue. She created Filiflavors, a food box company that ships Filipino flavors right to your doorstep.
Filiflavors carries a variety of different products, including items from their in-house brand. Their Crispy Mushroom Chicharon snack is a vegetarian take on the pork rind namesake, letting everyone in on the fun. The Kitchen Staples collection, which includes packets of ube, calamansi, coconut, and moringa, makes it easy to add these natural and vegan powders to baked goods, drinks, and meals for a Filipino twist. A small portion of Filiflavors’ sales also goes to two San Francisco nonprofits for children and families with special needs.
Shop Filiflavors.
Pinat
Pinat, founded in 2020, was a pandemic hobby turned full-time business for owner Elfie Lim. Based in New Jersey, Pinat offers high-quality candles and diffusers that are phthalate-free and made with eco-friendly ingredients.
Pinat has a variety of Filipino-inspired scents, like Ube & Buko, which smells like sweet purple yam and young coconut. Sampaguita takes on the scent of the national flower of the Philippines, which, to me, evokes memories of the jasmine bush outside my grandparents’ house. While those two are made with soy wax, Pinat also offers candles made with a coconut apricot wax blend and a crackling wooden wick for an extra cozy vibe.
If you’re not into candles, Pinat also sells scents in diffuser form. I especially love the little car diffusers, which come in cute glass bottles and can also be used in small areas of your home, like bathrooms or closets.
Shop Pinat.
Maribou Studio
Started by two sisters, Sophie and Bianca, Maribou Studio focuses on creating wearable art. They work with materials like polymer clay, gold, and beads, and offer earrings, necklaces, and bracelets in bright colors and styles. One of their bestsellers is the Masaya Earring, the Filipino word for “happy.” The earring takes the shape of the word in Baybayin, the pre-colonial writing script in the Philippines. Their jewelry is made to order, but Maribou Studio can occasionally be found at pop-ups around NYC.
Shop Maribou Studio.
