Trying to navigate and finding your own community in New York, a city that has been given the epithet of “the melting pot,” is not necessarily an easy task for everyone, but Sari-Sari is hoping to help change that.
Founded by photographer Marielle Sales in 2018 (with Gabriella Mozo as her partner), Sari-Sari General Store is a NYC-based collective that “celebrates and explores modern iterations of Filipinx culture.” What started organically as a group of Filipino-American friends from the New York-New Jersey area is now looking to bring people together through a series of curated pop-ups, experiences and collaborations.
The goal is to offer a “fresh perspective on the often underrepresented culture and brings a new generation of talent from the Filipinx diaspora to the forefront,” one project at a time.
With May being Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the duo has tapped its network of friends and collaborators to be featured in a HYPEBAE-exclusive editorial highlighting a number of Filipino-owned brands, including Sunnies Studios, MAAARI, Anika, Muni Muni and more.
If you happen to be in NYC on July 13, catch the Sari-Sari crew at the Happy Family Night Market.
Left: Pedro wears Halo-Halo bag, Sunnies Studios sunglasses and his own barong from the Philippines. Isabella wears Anika linen dress, Muni Muni raffia sandals, MAAARI earrings and MAAARI necklace.
Right: Niki wears stylist’s own vintage button down, Zara PH linen wrap skirt, Muni Muni raffia sandals and MAAARI earrings. Martin wears Commonwealth T-shirt, stylist’s own vintage paisley shirt, Sunnies Studios sunglasses. Hanging: MAAARI rug.
Being Pilipino American to me means a strong sense of pamilya, pride, and passion for our kultura.
“Being Pilipino American to me means a strong sense of pamilya, pride, and passion for our kultura. A constant celebration of our kultura through music, dance, and eating lots of Pilipino food!” — Pedro Vidallon, DJ TITO_VIDA of BUBBLE_T and Design Director
From left to right: Martin wears Factory for Hire jacket and his own pants and sneakers. Niki wears stylist’s own vintage button down with her own pants and Nicole Saldana shoes. Pedro wears Tropical Futures Institute T-shirt. Isabella wears Keith Lafuente top with her own vintage jeans, Nicole Saldana mules and MAAARI necklace.
Keeping old traditions alive within a dynamic culture.
“[Being Filipino-American means] keeping old traditions alive within a dynamic culture.” — Isabella Fernandez, Photographer
Pedro wears Tropical Futures Institute T-shirt. Martin wears Factory for Hire jacket.
Left: Stylist’s own vintage Philippines cockfighting T-shirt. Right: Anika dress.
We’re generous, full of humour, endless love and incredible resilience.
“For me, being a Filipino-American means that there’s always room at our table. We’re generous, full of humour, endless love and incredible resilience. My parents immigrated to the states to provide my family a better life, and it’s a priority for me to continue carrying on their values and learn more about our unique heritage.” — Niki Frias, Marketing Coordinator
Left: MAAARI vase, basket bag and stacking pots. Right: Keith Lafuente checkered jacket.
What is important is that we all recognize our common denominator — our heritage and roots — and use that to fuel conversation and advance our culture.
“I’m born and raised in the Philippines, so I see my experiences here with an outsider’s perspective. I’ve always known that New York is where I had to be, but I’ve had to work twice as hard, not just to find my own corner in this crazy city, but also to find a sense of belonging in the Filipino-American community. Filipinos here have a different worldview and I’ve grown to appreciate and celebrate our differences. What is important is that we all recognize our common denominator — our heritage and roots — and use that to fuel conversation and advance our culture. People come to New York to prove something, and it’s high time Filipinos show what we’ve got.” — Martin Diegor, Art Director
