Building a home for like-minded creatives

Kyla Olives Laurel | Photos by Claire Salonga

They say many hands make light work, and with several brands putting hands and minds together, it is no surprise how quickly and beautifully The Olive Tree’s physical space has become.

From being a regular at artisan fairs, The Olive Tree now has its own pop-up at the Power Plant Mall, where they showcase not just their signature linens, but also creations by long-time friends and collaborators. “We created this space together with different brand partners who we feel like can really create the ecosystem and lifestyle that The Olive Tree believes in,” says Kyla Olives Laurel, founder of The Olive Tree and Ola Haus.

Branching out

Just like a house party guestlist, the selection of creatives whose products have found a home at The Olive Tree all share a common thread. To Laurel, that means they all “have heart… believe in their products, work with local communities, and really champion what it means to be a Filipino.”

The idea may sound lofty, but the pop-up looks and feels every bit as grounded. There is a warmth the moment you step into the space; a feeling that draws you to linger and just take in the details. Much like what it feels like to stay over at a beloved lola’s house, finding every nook and corner bursting with stories and memories.

At The Olive Tree pop-up, your eyes may be drawn to the cozy rattan daybed, made more plush and relaxing by embroidered linens. Maybe the cute and quirky placemats and napkins, splayed over a dining table, would compel you to sit (and think of dinner). Or perhaps, the jellyfish-inspired 3D lamp would strike your fancy, before spotting the intricately carved wooden ottomans, or intriguing bottles of tapuey on the table.

The attention drifts and wanders—and that’s exactly the goal.

Evoking a feeling of home

The space was designed by Maina Alonso, the other half of Proudly Promdi, with Ken Alonso. The space deliberately made use of the variety of brands and their varying aesthetics. “I really wanted it to feel like The Olive Tree world, and with Kyla, I wanted to make it feel like a home. Something that would make you want to enter, something that makes you want to stay in, and would also invite you to explore,” Maina says.

“You know how sometimes you enter a house and you get so interested in the little details that you just want to look at it and touch it and feel it,” she adds, saying the goal was for people to be able to imagine using those products in their own homes.

Placemats, napkins, and coasters by The Olive Tree

New things in the neighborhood

The pop-up, which runs for two months, features a changing rotation of items from brands like Casama Home, Life After Breakfast, Mold, Ottoman Collection, Casa Mercedes, Ash and Muff, Proudly Promdi, Ola Haus, and, of course, the shop’s namesake, The Olive Tree.

“We’re here for two months; you can keep dropping by and see what’s new,” Laurel says of the constantly updating collection in-store. “What we’re also trying to do is to introduce new things to the neighborhood and to people in Makati.”

What truly brings a home to life is the people in it, and that’s exactly what The Olive Tree has shown. “We’ve been doing this for 11 years, and every year it feels like there’s momentum going. When this space was available, we decided to jump,” Laurel says.

And though they had a relatively short time to put everything together, it was through combined efforts that their pop-up home came to life. “We didn’t do it alone. We really held on to all the people we could trust, and all the people we knew could deliver as well. I really feel like you can see the heart come through.”

“It’s not just a store that displays items; it’s really like a home for all of these products.”