“Object Overview:

The I ❤️ PINAYS shirt, designed by Mikayla “Swiper” Delson in 2024, takes a widely recognizable American graphic—the I ❤️ NY format—and flips it with layered intent. At first glance, the shirt reads as a celebration of Filipina identity. But the design does more than assert affection, it experiments with typography to open up multiple readings. As the “Y” fades, PINAYS becomes PINAS (a colloquial name for the Philippines), or, something more risqué. The visual pun invites the wearer and viewer to decide how they see it—playful, political, or both.

What began as a personal design idea became a reflection of a broader question: who gets to be centered in streetwear, and what does it mean to create for oneself and one’s community rather than for a market?”