How these local brands bring culture, community, craftsmanship together

MANILA, Philippines – At the heart of every handcrafted product lies a deeper story, a story of community, culture, and conscious choices. 

For Kultura, these stories are the foundation of their advocacy for sustainable Filipino living. As part of the SM’s Green Finds program, Kultura has become more than a retail destination; it has emerged as a vital platform for social enterprises like Our Little Ideas and KOKO Slow Living — local brands who turned passion into purpose.

Our Little Ideas: Sustainable, locally produced

When Chris Olimpo and his co-founder started Our Little Ideas (OLI) in 2019, they weren’t just building a business — they were building bridges. 

OLI began as a social enterprise aimed at connecting Gawad Kalinga communities and Bicolano weavers with broader markets through timeless, sustainably made home products. Their philosophy? To design with intention and tell a story that values culture, craftsmanship, and community.

“We wanted to bring locally woven products into the consciousness of the modern Filipino home,” Chris shares. 

Their standout product, the handwoven banig throw pillow, has become an emblem of this vision — made with handloomed fabric from Ragay, Camarines Sur, and handsewn in a Gawad Kalinga community in Batangas. 

From packaging to product, everything is sustainably sourced and locally produced.

Though OLI started with only two people, they now partner with two to three weaving communities and a team of sewers, with production scaling up during peak seasons. 

Getting their products into Kultura stores at SM Aura, SM Makati, and online was a pivotal moment. 

“Kultura has given our brand credibility and widened our reach beyond our usual online channels. More importantly, they’ve helped amplify our impact on the communities we serve,” Chris said.

Chris notes that working with Kultura has pushed them to improve — from better quality control to more refined branding. 

“Kultura is a great fit because they truly live out their commitment to supporting Filipino craftsmanship and sustainability,” he says.

Looking ahead, OLI is set to grow its product line, partner with more weaving communities, and continue making a mark in Filipino homes — one purposeful piece at a time.

From SLOW living to KOKO living

While OLI was born from community roots, KOKO Slow Living grew from a deeply personal journey. 

For Koleen Davila Palaganas, the brand is the physical manifestation of her life’s work in sustainable development — and her nickname, “Koko.” 

Inspired by the book Still by Natalie Walton, Koleen embraced the concept of SLOW Living — an acronym for Sustainable, Local, Organic, and Whole. It’s a philosophy that changed how she lived and eventually how she created.

“I started by shifting to slow food, natural home care, and more mindful living,” she recalls. 

That transition led to KOKO Living’s first products: candles with the scent of nature, Ayurvedic soaps, and water-based room sprays. Each item is an offering toward a gentler, more grounded way of life.

KOKO Slow Living is still home-based, run by Koleen, her husband, one full-time staff member, and a supportive network of local mompreneurs and artisans, including acacia carvers from Baguio. They source coconut oil and fragrance oils from Filipino suppliers, staying true to their commitment to local sourcing and sustainability.

The brand formally launched in early 2025 after a surprisingly successful five-week holiday run in late 2024. 

“We never planned on building a business; it started as an advocacy. But the warm reception from friends, family, and customers convinced us to keep going,” Koleen says.

Their biggest break came when Kultura brought them into its Green Finds collection, first in its Greenhills Mall branch, and now in SM Makati and SM Aura.

“Kultura is more than a partner — they are our mentor,” Koleen beams. “They challenge us to improve our packaging, expand our offerings, and refine our customer experience. We feel at home here.”

With dreams of one day opening her own artisan store, Koleen remains grounded in gratitude. “We’re just beginning. Our goal now is to give our best to Kultura and keep learning.”

A platform for progress

For both Chris and Koleen, the SM Green Finds program is not just a marketplace — it’s a movement, one that champions local, conscious living and uplifts small businesses with big visions. 

By bringing together sustainable brands, this Green Finds initiative empowers communities, preserves Filipino heritage, and helps customers make choices that are kind to the planet and good for the soul. And with Kultura, it turns these little ideas and personal dreams into lasting, tangible impact.

As Chris puts it, “We don’t just sell pillows — we tell stories.” As Koleen also reminds, “It takes faith, courage, and community to begin anything meaningful.” – Rappler.com