MUSINGS WITH KIMI JUAN-CAJA

A true island girl and Filipina beauty, Kimi Juan-Caja (@kimijuan) knows how to live consciously and intentionally. Kimi has built a life that is beyond aspirational, and a quick glance at her instagram feed will have you dreaming of warm beaches and considered possessions. It shows that we too can curate our lives around a focus on the simple things in search for peace and simplicity. Kimi has been a huge source of inspiration for us in her approach to slow living, well-made sustainable pieces, and a tropical aesthetic to escape to in your mind whenever you need it. We had the pleasure of talking to Kimi and learning about her love of French dance music, her passion for travel, photography, and spending time with her beautiful daughter Olivia. We hope you enjoy getting to know this gentle soul as much as we have.

Where were you raised and where are you currently based?

I was born and raised in the Philippines and still live here currently.

Share the inspiration and journey behind your craft, your photography, and any future projects you may be working on.

I started as a Fashion Photographer straight out of college but quickly fell in love with traveling so my husband and I shifted to doing travel photography work for hotels and tourism boards around the world, which is how we were able to travel so much. My inspiration has always been the places I visit, i always want to capture the true essence of the country I'm visiting. From then, we started a blog called The Escape Journal and we were able to share our travels through photographs. My work quickly shifted to environmental awareness when i realised that I had to work hard to make a place look “clean” in my photographs, I immediately knew something was wrong. My main focus now is to live a slow, conscious life and hopefully inspire others along the way. Right now, I'm pausing travel work and focusing on my daughter.

What are some of the ways you embrace slower and sustainable living?

My number one is to have less. i have really shifted my perspective that having less is really more. It's been years since i last shopped from a fast fashion brand and I’ve been very conscious in what products I welcome into my home. No plastics and synthetics in all aspects.

Three words to describe your ideal holiday/vacation.

Regenerative, Slow, Peaceful.

Favourite places you’ve travelled to and why?

Bali, my second home, I love the slow life, the beaches, the food, the culture.

Joshua Tree, for the energy, and the peace of the desert.

India, for the colours, the food, the culture, and just how much life that country has.

Tell us about your day time and night time rituals.

Ever since I had my daughter, things really changed and most days and nights are really busy, but in the evening I find some time for myself to do a nice hot shower, a mask and maybe an episode or two of a series or movie.