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​Tulá means "poem" in Tagalog. In this spirit, Tula Designs is a practice of creation and community, offering gingerly handcrafted adornments inspired by the natural world, heritage and the lyrical human body.  ​​

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All pieces are handcrafted by one person, and contains elements from the land, sea, metamorphosed deep below the surface of the Earth or from a noble once living being. With animistic intent, each and every element is honored and deeply thanked for its original source -- whether a natural stone created from geological processes within the Earth over vast periods of time, or born from a living creature by way of a conscious, self nurturing process.

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All packaging materials are recyclable or biodegradable. All pieces are unique, and come with a care warranty for free adjustments, repairs or hardware replacements.  Bartering and service trade requests always welcome. More info can be found here. 

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A % of every sale is donated to a mutual aid or grassroots organization committed to community care and liberation - from here in LA to Palestine. 

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Kelsey Lacanilao (Lakan Ilaw) is a lesbian, Aquarius sun and first-generation artist born in Los Angeles by Philippine immigrants from all over Luzon Island. ​She started making jewelry as amulets, and as a way of feeling more connected with the Earth & her body (since having to live with various chronic illnesses) - to adorn it with self-made, carefully collected natural objects, stones, beads, and findings. ​

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In addition to creating, she works full time with Kailukuan School of Indigenous Science and at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, She is a former Seattle independent bookseller and loves collecting many things - from knick knacks, sacred objects, shells and rocks to rare books & even tatus on her body. She currently lives with her life partner, 2 rescue pit bulls, 2 rescue cats + rare crested gecko.​ She is a lifelong hungry learner committed to anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist and anti-colonial values and finds reading a critical part of resistance labor. You can find links to free revolutionary/radical books here. Share, download, save. We're building an accessible community archive - additions are welcome.

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