They say imitation is the best form of flattery. In a way yes, but straight up copying a design is lazy and disrespectful to me and the people who support the brand. Copying just limits your creativity.
It's a violation of intellectual property rights. Please support your local designers. There's a lot of creative minds out there, what they need is support and not imitation.
If you ever see an e/lou looking chair out there without the "e/lou" maker's mark, whether it's an old version or a new one, there's a high chance that it is a copy. đź‘€
📸 By Studio Periphery for EMERGE 2023
"Sanggumay" – Mixed media on wood cuttings
18 in x 20 in blooms
Series two of six in collaboration with @elou.ph
Sit through storm. Endure the elements. Bloom.
Pina Sound Panel began as a material experiment using piña felt. A collaboration between @elou.ph and @hiblatech
A functional sound object that feels closer to material exploration than consumer electronics. It’s meant for casual listening, ambient playback, and spaces where sound and design share the same attention.
Check it out at the Design Exhibition
From January 22 to 25
Ten years ago. While I was still early in my woodworking curiosity, I had the chance to source wood from a local community. This bench was the result of that moment.
The material was from charcoal makers in Sitio Wawa, near the Wawa Dam. I remember seeing piles of half-logs about to be burned. Locals called them “banakal,” basically the outer part of a tree. Odd shapes, softer wood, considered useless.
I kept a few pieces. Finally had the chance to turn one into a bench. The base is torched and stained to a deep black. A reference to the charcoal these pieces were supposed to become.
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of designing and making a limited-edition modular shoe box for Birkenstock’s 250th year anniversary.
Hand-cut joinery, paired with leather belts custom made by Marikina artisans. The piece stands as an homage to 250 years of tradition craftsmanship, interpreted through a contemporary, build-led design.
What made it fun is that each kit comes flat packed, with the recipient assembling the entire piece. That act of building is part of the design, inviting them to experience the craft firsthand.
#handmadebyelou
#birkenstockph
Hints at a tree in motion.
A continuation of my 2024 piece Forage Nest (table). Built from the same habit of shaping leftovers into new forms. This time using the concept of mobiles as a way to let scrap find its own balance. letting each piece move. react. and settle into place.
For MANIFESTO Vol. 1: Organique
Curated by Zarate Manila
Tomorrow I'll be showing an unfinished Stoolito for @in.the.making_ph Section 2 showcase called "Stool samples"
Take a peek on how parts meet and how the piece comes together before the finish. It's a small (and rare) reveal of what usually stays behind the scenes.
See you 5pm onwards!
In The Making: Stool Samples
Comuna, Makati
October 11–18, 2025
EMERGE showcase opens today. Design objects from 70+ designers across Southeast Asia showcased in a single place. Don’t miss it!
Curated by @suzyannetta (Design Anthology) and @edwin_supermama (Supermama), with the support of DesignSingapore Council and @finddesignfairasia
In the photo: Form No. 2 box
Joinery as Form
This two-part design enlarges traditional techniques into the silhouette itself—homage to the logic and poetry of a wood joinery.
Pull it apart, and you discover how the pieces fit together. An invitation to curiosity about the tradition behind it.
See it first at EMERGE @ FIND - Design Fair Asia
11-13 Sep 2025
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
#handmadebyelou
Stoolito - Designed with flexibility in mind—something you can sit on from any side, depending on mood or the moment. Small enough to be a seat, big enough to work as a side table, it’s a quiet, multifunctional piece that adapts to your space.
What looks simple on the surface is grounded in careful thought—Stoolito is a study of proportion, balance, and refined details. Each part having its purpose. It’s one of the first designs that helped shape what e/lou stands for: simplicity, elegance, and balance.
