Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lydia Querian. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Lydia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Elle Karayan came from seeing both sides of the Filipino experience — being born and raised in the Philippines, and then living in the diaspora. I began to notice how, in many diasporic communities, Filipino culture is often represented in a monolithic way. Yet, we come from over 7,000 islands and more than 144 ethnolinguistic groups — each with its own colors, weaves, and stories.

I found myself asking: How do you represent a country this diverse within a community that has gone through waves of assimilation and cultural erasure? That question became my creative compass.

Clothing felt like the most universal and accessible medium to explore this — something everyone interacts with daily. Through fashion, I could weave identity, ancestry, and artistry together, creating pieces that speak to Filipino-Americans who know there’s something in their roots they’re trying to reconnect with but may not know how.

What excited me most was realizing that Elle Karayan could be a bridge. A way for people to see themselves, to wear their heritage with pride, and to reclaim the parts of our story that were once washed out.

Lydia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Lydia Querian, and I’m the founder and designer behind Elle Karayan, a fashion brand that weaves together Filipino culture, contemporary design, and storytelling. I was born and raised in the Philippines and later migrated to the U.S., which gave me a unique two-dimensional lens — one foot rooted in my homeland, and another navigating life in the Filipino diaspora.

My journey into fashion was about identity and reclamation. I started Elle Karayan to reimagine what Filipino representation could look like beyond the stereotypical barong or terno, and to show that tradition can exist boldly in modern, expressive forms. I incorporate Indigenous textiles, traditional weaves, and ancestral motifs into silhouettes that feel both familiar and forward-thinking. Each piece is designed with intention — to carry the stories, artistry, and spirit of our ancestors into the present day.

Elle Karayan serves as a creative bridge for Filipino-Americans and other diasporic communities who are seeking to reconnect with their roots but may not know where to begin. Fashion becomes a language of reconnection — a way to wear one’s identity proudly and accessibly.

What sets us apart is our commitment to cultural authenticity, sustainability, and education. We collaborate with Indigenous weavers, Indigenous artisans, and cultural bearers from the Philippines to ensure that our designs reference culture and create more value to it. Every collection is an act of remembrance and celebration.

I’m most proud of how Elle Karayan has become a movement of cultural revival and remembering. I want people to know that our work is about honoring where we come from while reimagining what it means to be Filipino in the modern diasporic world.

At its core, Elle Karayan is a statement of identity, resilience, and beauty that transcends borders.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I used to work in corporate media — a career that was both enjoyable and financially stable. But over time, I began to feel that something was missing. I was succeeding professionally, yet I didn’t feel truly fulfilled. Outside of work, I found myself drawn to cultural work through dance and music, reconnecting with my roots in a more meaningful way.

During an immersion trip to the Philippines, everything shifted. I realized that I could take the skills I’d built in the corporate world — storytelling, branding, production — and channel them toward something that would benefit my community and nurture cultural continuity. It was both a professional pivot and a personal awakening.

That experience became a deep healing process for me — a return to purpose. It was when I understood that creativity, when aligned with culture and intention, could be a powerful tool for reclamation and change.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that success is defined by external validation — titles, income, or recognition from established institutions. Coming from a corporate background, I was conditioned to measure worth through productivity and prestige.

But as I began doing cultural work — reconnecting with Indigenous traditions, music, and fashion — I realized that true success isn’t about how much you achieve, but how deeply your work aligns with your values and community.

The backstory of this unlearning came through cultural immersion trips in the Philippines, where I witnessed artisans and elders creating from a place of purpose, not performance. Their work wasn’t about scale or fame — it was about continuity. That shifted everything for me.

Now, I see my creative path not as climbing higher, but as digging deeper — returning to what’s real, intentional, and rooted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ellekarayan.com
• Instagram: @ellekarayan
• Facebook: @ellekarayan
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/lydiaquerian
• Twitter: @ellekarayan
• Youtube: @ellekarayan
• Other: pinterest and tiktok @ellekarayan

Image Credits

Lydia in white – Meinard Navato and Isaiah Omana
Model photos from fashion week – Vion Tam
Lydia with Hanged clothes – Lydia Querian