MEET JO. This is my mom, Jo Rivera.

Watching my mom peacefully sew in the most extraordinary and unusual places has shown me that patchwork is truly one of the forms of artisanship which gives meaning to “labor of love,” and it also beautifully functions as a grounding and meditative practice. Patchwork is an inherently slow art, with each scrap of fabric thoughtfully sewed together piece by piece. 

My mom’s very first patchwork gift to me was on the day I was born - a teeny quilted blanket that now follows me from home to home. As I grew, her gifts grew with me. Old jeans with rips and tears became works of art. Holes were patched with recycled, natural fabrics that she kept around in bundles. Previously discarded jeans became stronger, reinforced by the patchwork. And with embroidery techniques influenced by my Lola’s teachings and Japanese-style Sashiko stitching, my mom gifted me my favorite jeans. 

LOLAKO is her gift to the world - the gift of a handcrafted with love, one-of-a-kind denim garment. A gift that uniquely transforms into your perfect fit, and also carries with it a piece of my mom’s heart - the Philippines. A gift that grows with you and can continue to grow with your children. Because our denim only gets better with age, just like our Lolas!