Laloce – where it began
This was the top I brought to my Larab booth event almost ten years ago.
It didn’t sell that night. But one of the organizers—who happens to be my—friend called dibs. And somehow that felt louder than a sale.
It was the piece that made girls in Northern Samar stop and look (or I like to think so). It was one of the first designs people kept asking about —and the first one I made in multiple versions.
Back in 2014, I had just started a page in college. I was mostly making beanies for friends. Ganchilyo was still seen as something traditional. Familiar. The usual pieces people already knew.
Laloce felt different. It felt like I was onto something. The name? I literally used a random word generator website and picked one that sounded pretty. That’s it.
The pattern was from a YouTuber at the time. Her version used thicker yarn, and a I, however, decided to complicate my life and use fingering yarn. I double-pulled on the cups and used a single crochet stich. The cups took forever. But the pineapple stitch looked softer. More intricate.
Eventually I adapted because orders started piling up.
Some girls wanted it longer. Some didn’t like the scalloped trim. Some wanted adjustments everywhere. Honestly, some of the requests were wild. My current self would probably say no.
But back then, I always said yes. Not because I didn’t know better, but it feels like i’m onto something
Every version taught me something — about fit, about yarn, about patience. About what people wanted. About what I was willing to give.
Laloce wasn’t just a top.
It was proof that something could grow from my hands.And it did.
