About

Elle Karayan, named after the Filipino word karayan, meaning “river”, is a Filipina-owned fashion house rooted in continuity, and cultural responsibility. The name Karayan is rooted through relationships with river communities across the Philippines, where rivers serve as lifelines, sustaining land and culture. Like the river, we exist as a vessel: carrying living traditions forward while sustaining the people and environments that hold them.

“Elle” honors the women weavers we work with, Indigenous culture bearers, land caretakers, and keepers of living knowledge. These women are at the heart of Elle Karayan. Through their hands and oral traditions, Indigenous practices continue despite generations of disruption caused by colonization, displacement, and environmental degradation.

Elle Karayan is committed to caring for the caretakers of Indigenous lands across the Philippines. We work directly with Indigenous weaving communities, positioning our brand as a conduit for continuity, supporting livelihoods while honoring cultural sovereignty, ancestral wisdom, and long-term sustainability.

Our clothing and accessories are crafted using handwoven Filipino textiles, directly supporting Indigenous weaving communities throughout the archipelago. Alongside this, we operate with a deep commitment to ecological responsibility. Our practices include the use of deadstock fabrics, low-waste pattern making, and a slow fashion model that prioritizes longevity, intentional production, and environmental care.

Central to our design philosophy is the Filipino value of “walang sayang”—nothing wasted. This principle is embedded into our technical design process, where materials are maximized, remnants are reimagined, and every resource is treated with respect. Sustainability, for us, is an inherited cultural practice.

Founded by cultural practitioner and designer Lydia Querian, Elle Karayan emerged from years of working alongside Indigenous communities across the Philippines. Through these relationships, Lydia witnessed both the resilience of living traditions and the urgency of their preservation, particularly as younger generations face the lasting impacts of colonization and climate change. Elle Karayan was created as a bridge between motherland and diaspora, ancestral knowledge and contemporary expression.

Each Elle Karayan piece carries lineage, intention, and care. Our garments worn, carry the memory of rivers crossed, hands that wove them, and families who continue to protect culture through their craft.

We believe Indigenous is the future. And fashion can be a force that sustains it.

Core Values

1. Honoring Living Traditions by integrating traditional Indigenous practices and textiles into modern fashion.
2. Empowering and Uplifting Indigenous Filipino Communities by showcasing their craftsmanship and providing economic opportunities through ethical partnerships.
3. Commitment to Sustainability and Environmentally Responsible Practices by using natural and sustainable materials, while promoting a zero-waste approach.
4. Innovation Rooted in Tradition by Merging contemporary design with ancestral wisdom, creating pieces that are both modern and timeless.
5. Global Filipino Cultural Pride by encouraging the Filipino diaspora to embrace and promote their cultural identity, wherever they are in the world.