What we do


OUR NORTH STAR

A pre-colonial Filipino man dressed in traditional barong tagalog clothing, including a transparent abaca fiber tunic, loose blue pants, and a tall black hat, standing outdoors with an umbrella and a cloth bag.

Fashion becomes language

Garments can tell stories of migration, adaptation, and cultural memory. In the way Filipino Americans dress, we see conversations between survival and celebration, hiding and being seen.

Fashion has always been how we navigate belonging. We've used clothing to fit in, to signal that we belong in spaces not originally meant for us, sometimes to hide parts of ourselves to make others comfortable.

We use fashion photography to explore how we want to be seen. Not to fit in, but to stand out with pride. When we photograph someone in traditional patterns styled with confidence, we're documenting cultural celebration, not assimilation.

Fashion becomes our camera lens for capturing Filipino American life. The celebrations, struggles, memories, and dreams that shape our community. Through clothing, styling, and visual storytelling, we make the invisible visible.

This is how fashion speaks Filipino American.

OUR PURPOSE

Mission

DIWA exists to keep and celebrate Filipino American stories through considered storytelling that honors both our heritage and our evolution. We believe in creating space where every voice in Filipino America can be heard.

Vision

We envision Filipino American stories at the center of American cultural conversation, with DIWA as the platform that makes this future possible.

OUR VALUES

A transparent background with a red, geometric, knot-like symmetrical design in the center.
A transparent background with a red, geometric, knot-like symmetrical design in the center.
A transparent background with a red, geometric, knot-like symmetrical design in the center.
A transparent background with a red, geometric, knot-like symmetrical design in the center.

  • We tell real stories from real people, avoiding stereotypes and oversimplification while honoring the complexity of Filipino American identity.

  • Every story we share strengthens the connections between Filipino Americans across generations, regions, and experiences.

  • We approach each narrative with a focus on the human experience behind each story.

  • We create content designed to last—both physically and culturally— building a lasting record of Filipino American experience.

The DIWA Community

Our readers are Filipino Americans and cultural allies who see fashion as storytelling, food as cultural preservation, and community as creative force.

HOW WE TELL STORIES

We approach each story with respect for its complexity, understanding that Filipino American identity isn't singular but richly varied. Our editorial process prioritizes real stories, nuance, and the kind of thoughtful presentation that honors our community.

We believe that