Ballads, etc.

This @ballads_etc collection believe it or not was inspired by my mom and my grandma. An homage to those who came to America believing in something bigger and crossed oceans carrying hope, sacrifice and the promise of a better life. We grew up believing hard work would be enough, only to learn reality was more complicated than the dream we were sold. I think of my grandma when I think about the American dream and how we were taught to believe in something bigger but ultimately had to learn instead how to believe in ourselves. A kind of resilience you can only inherit. So this one is dedicated to those who despite disillusionment continued to build, love and believe anyway. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 5: 𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢 ℑ𝔰 𝔖𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔓𝔯𝔦𝔡𝔢 Online 5/18 • Early preview at Baryo HiFi 5/16 As always, @willazcona @tiffanyanthony you make every shoot magical 🫂🫂🫂

For Filipino American History Month this year we wanted to create something that celebrates the beauty in our resilience throughout the decades of the Filipino American experience. My parents took every opportunity to communicate to us what it meant to be Filipino here; from our early arrival in Morro Bay to our part of the Zoot Suit Riots, the Manong generation and the importance of the labor movement, what it meant to grow up in proximity to different cultures - including the Chicano communities for us in San Diego and the melting pot that was my grandfathers neighborhood in 1970s Brooklyn. The history of our experience as Filipinos here informed everything on this project from color palette and styling cues to fabric and form. We’re blessed enough to have such talented friends at @firmeatelier so we thought it would be time to finally come together to create something special for October. We’re excited to present ‘Tell It Like It Is,’ a FAHM capsule featuring a RTW suit that blends past with the present while looking towards the future. And our future is looking bright 🌟 Model: @jofr3paul Photography: @willazcona MUA: @aljan3glamgoddess Special Thanks @_taylorish_ @step0nme @jimmyeatworldz @franknhanksbar ‘TELL IT LIKE IT IS’ drops online 10/27 💙🌞❤️

May 18th 🌹 Love Is… 🌹

A big thank you to our friends and family for the love and support and pullin up to celebrate the preview of the drop last week! We love you all so very much 🫂

Such a special capsule, made possible thanks to our friends at @firmeatelier is now available online. Premium pinstripe suiting, hand dyed Philippine Piña and modern fits. ‘TELL IT LIKE IT IS’ - Firmé for Ballads now available online Please note production lead times. These are made to order and quality takes time 💙

@firmeatelier for @ballads_etc preview tonight excited to share what we’ve been inspired by and working on available online 10/27 🫂

Before my dad came to the US, he moved to Manila with barely anything in his pocket and got a job as a mechanic at an auto shop, where he slept on the floor in the back. Ultimately he would go on to be a jet mechanic but the garage became this place of peace and freedom for him and eventually for me too. My dad taught me how to work on the family cars in the garage. My uncles would be drinking Red Horses while my aunties played Mahjong in the garage. My teenage friends and I had all kinds of nights in the garage. It was our little sanctuary for family and community, discovery and connection. When I close my eyes and think about it I hear my dad playing this song, so this capsule is dedicated to those memories. Our own little oasis in a 1 car garage. Online 6/9 • ‘A HORSE WITH NO NAME’ by @ballads_etc You already know the home team kills it every time 👑 @willazcona @tiffanyanthony special thank you to @gilveracruz 🐎🐎🐎 ***** I was initially gonna push this drop back with everything going on here in LA - ICE raids and deportations, the protests and the National Guard showing up… but I realized that part of resistance is continuing to tell our stories as immigrants and the children of immigrants. Our voices, actions and our stories will continue to defend and define the communities so many sacrificed to build. So this is also dedicated to our friends, family and neighbors fighting for their peace and freedom. 💙

Track 3 “A Horse With No Name” Capsule 🐎 Goes Live Monday June 9 10AM PST

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝟑: 𝓐 𝓗𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓝𝓸 𝓝𝓪𝓶𝓮 *work in progress*

After my parents met in Texas and had my brother, they moved to San Diego and opened a market to serve the local Filipino community. A tiny but mighty space that had anything and everything when it came to the comforts of home; groceries, snacks, a hot bar, a VHS section, pastries - you name it. It’s kinda funny how helping our people stay connected with the Philippines was a part of my parents’ American dream. It makes sense with my pops being in the military and my mom being a nurse that their little shop was an extension of the ‘acts of service’ love language I think we’re all familiar with as first generation Americans. So as FAHM comes to a close, we’re dropping a special capsule dedicated to the Filipino American experience; the hopes and dreams, the struggle and success, the friends and family. It all sounds like a love song to me. 11/1 Online • ‘SOUNDS LIKE A LOVE SONG’ by @ballads_etc ALL PRAISES DUE TO THE SQUAD @tiffanyanthony @willazcona THIS CAME OUT INSANE ILYSM MAJOR LOVE TO @dnoc777 @yesj3ss @gianni.xavier SPECIAL THANKS @daytodaydre @shopdelagold United Bread & Pastry SEE YALL IN NOVEMBER 💙🌞❤️

Back 2 Back 2 Back! Congrats on 3 years 🔥 @lasita.la

In celebration of Barrio Fiesta falling on Kobe Day 8/24, we’ve teamed up with @ballads_etc for exclusive, one-of-a-kind themed merch. Each ticket purchase comes with a complimentary wine glass. Our limited-edition tote and shirt will be available exclusively for purchase at the event. Huge thanks to @rionbarcena @tiffanyanthony and 📸 : @willazcona for bringing this vision to life! Can’t wait to see you all on Saturday. ⭐️🏀🍷