A high-fashion Filipino lookbook that feels like "coming home"

Bay Area rap and the occasional Tagalog ballad blasted through the speakers at Projkt L.A.in Monterey Park as Stephanie Ramos, Miles Canares, P-Lo and Micah Mahinay — who goes by the DJ name Noodles — celebrated Filipino creatives and brands with a high-fashion lookbook, shot on film by Brandon Kaipo Moningka.Ramos, Canares, P-Lo and Noodles are among the co-founders of the Baryo HiFi festival, which is now in its second year and taking place this Saturday, May 3.

For the event, Filipino American artists, performers and vendors take over a block of Beverly Boulevard, a joyous showcase that Ramos describes as a reclamation of Historic Filipinotown.“As Filipinos, we’re often the ones working behind the scenes, whether that’s in the entertainment industry, fashion, healthcare, hospitality,” Ramos says.“We’re the backbone of so many industries, but we’re rarely in the spotlight.

Our goal was really to shine a light and create a platform for us to celebrate, be seen and do that on our own terms.”With clothing and bling from Filipino-owned brands Art Community, Ballads, Maaari, De La Gold, FAMILY by Coen Clemente, Mojave, Gara Sun and RIF.LA, stylist Christine Garcia wanted to focus on “Filipino hospitality and heartwarming generosity.” Taking inspiration from her own family photos, Garcia instinctively paired oversized denim on denim, stacked jade bangles on gold bracelets and styled a FAMILY tee that reads, “There is beauty in our Moreno skin.”“It felt like coming home to family,” Garcia says of the styling process.These same brands will have booths at Baryo, as part of two marketplaces featuring Filipino designers — one curated by Sari-Sari Studio and Mayumi Market, and the other by Buttery Pat and Tried & True Co.Attendees can shop R.Chive Vintage streetwear and mahjong-inspired earrings from BRWNGRLZ.

The festival will feature “Working Overtime,” an exhibit curated by Kristofferson San Pablo, showcasing 19 interdisciplinar...