The term "Bruha" means "witch" in Tagalog. It was also used to label us as too loud, too different or too much. Now, we wear it as our badge of honor. We reclaim the term as a symbol of strength, individuality, and embracing our inner magic.
Hi! I'm Angela Tolosa, the founder of Bruha. My story begins with childhood, growing up Filipino American in the Bay Area. I often felt caught in the in-between of cultures, expectations, and the parts of myself I was told to hide. That tension pushed me toward creative expression.
I fell in love with art early on. Painting, drawing, and anything hands-on became my outlet. Studying Graphic Design deepened that passion, and digital illustration became a big part of my work. I’m fortunate to have such a creative career where my passion can overlap with my work. However, I always felt I didn’t quite fit into the ‘design’ world. There was a divide between “work” me and “artist” me. Later on, that became my superpower.
Travel also shaped me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. In 2015, I moved to Berlin and everything expanded. It made me explore outside the industry norms and discover my niche. I built a design agency, grew my art practice, and found a community of creatives to collaborate with. I explored new mediums like watercolor, pottery, jewelry making, and even 3D art. The divide I once felt between work and play was beginning to intertwine. That period of freedom planted the first seeds of Bruha.
By 2023, I moved back to California and decided to turn my passions into a business. I also fell in love with plants, which inspired the earliest version of Bruha. I sold plants, made pottery, and created small home decor while living the pop-up and market life. I met amazing people, collaborated with other artists, and even experimented with a small retail shop, workshops, and music events.
In 2024, my vision became clearer. I realized I wanted to turn my artwork into wearable designs. Jewelry felt like the perfect fit because it combined art, design, and symbolism. Bruha has now evolved into a brand focused on intentional jewelry and meaningful objects. Everything is created with purpose, inspired by modern spirituality, Filipino culture, and the creative path that shaped me. Thanks for being on this every-evolving journey with me!