The story behind RiShay
Home is more than a place.
I was born and raised in the mountains of the Philippine Cordilleras, surrounded by my Igorot community. Back then, home was everywhere: in the people who knew one another, in the food we shared, in our traditions, and in the way we showed up for each other. I didn’t realize how much of it I carried with me until I moved away.
My family moved to Canada in 2010, when I was 17. In 2020, I moved to the U.S. on my own. Each move opened a new chapter, and I’ve always been proud of where I come from. But distance has a way of making the ordinary things feel precious. I missed the community, the camaraderie, the culture, and all the little moments I once thought would always be within reach.
I also learned that the things I could find so easily back home weren’t always easy to find abroad. I kept thinking about others who might feel that same ache—and about people who have never had the chance to know our part of the world.
That’s why I started RiShay. I want to make heritage-inspired products that bring a little of home closer to families like mine, while opening a door for others to discover the Cordilleras. Our first step is food, but my dream reaches further. I want the world to know our culture, our stories, and that we exist. If RiShay can help build that bridge, it will mean everything to me. 💙
— Riva Shayne, Founder of RiShay
