Meet Faye Du | Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Philozineia

We had the good fortune of connecting with Faye Du and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Faye, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Philozineia is dedicated to empowering youth by creating intentional, inclusive third places where teen creatives can interact, learn from one another, and collaborate. We host zine-making workshops and publish a zine ourselves! Historically, zines have challenged dominant narratives, amplifying voices often excluded from mainstream media. Covering topics like anti-racism, queer liberation, and environmentalism, their DIY nature encourages authenticity and unfettered expression. Beyond art, zines have always been a tool for community-building, offering marginalized creatives a space to share ideas and stories.
We also advocate for equitable access to art, education, resources, and essential humanitarian needs. As part of this mission, Philozineia’s publications and fundraisers not only act as platforms showcasing art created by and for youth but also directly support the communities we know and love. For example, we’ve done a zine-making workshop and bake sale in support of Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network, fundraised for Sunrise Movement through our zine fest, and 100% of proceeds from the first issue of our zine are going to Plan International.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Philozineia (pronounced “feel-oh-zeen-yah”), commonly referred to as Philo, is a Los Angeles-based youth collective dedicated to amplifying and authentically representing teens’ diverse perspectives and passions in our communities. Our name is inspired by the Greek word “philoxenia,” which conveys the spirit of hospitality and friendship toward strangers—a core value of our collective. We combined it with “zine” to reflect the DIY nature of our work and our love for activism and self-publishing.
Philo started very casually! I just texted some of my friends, saying something like, “Hey, I have this vision. Would you guys be down to do it with me?” I got everyone on a Zoom call, pitched the idea, and from there, we got to work. We designed flyers and took them all over LA, visiting independent bookshops, record stores, anywhere we thought people might be interested. At first, engagement was slow, and we were just a small group figuring things out.
Even today, we’re still a tight-knit collective, but we’ve started reaching more people, even some outside the U.S.! Seeing Philozineia grow, even in the smallest ways, has been incredibly rewarding, and it reinforces why we do what we do: to create spaces for young artists who might not have had them otherwise.
Getting to where we are today wasn’t easy. Many members of Philo come from environments where art isn’t prioritized, due to a heavier emphasis on STEM or just a general lack of arts funding and support. Whether it was through shared experiences at school or conversations about each of our own journeys, we realized how difficult it was for us to pursue creativity in a world that demands constant productivity. That’s why Philo is a vehicle of sorts, providing access to art materials through workshops and a platform to find and connect with other creatives and the art industry.
Breaking into creative spaces where we had little exposure was and still is a big challenge for us, but all of our supporters have been instrumental to our journey, and we are so deeply grateful for each and every single one of them. Our zine fest could not have happened without PSI Productions, Live at Rainbow Canyon, and NEL EcoFunds; our workshops are only possible with everyone who’s come to create with us; everyone who’s shown their support in any way keeps us going. We make sure to keep up with the people we’ve met through Philo and it is amazing to have discovered so many talented and generous artists.
One thing we’ve learned? Running a publication is expensive! But more importantly, art is worth investing in. Philozineia is proof that youth deserve creative spaces, access to resources, and opportunities to share their voices.
In our zine-making workshops, the first thing we teach to anyone new to the process is how to create a single-page zine. A single folded and cut sheet of paper becomes a pocket-sized booklet, and from there on, it can be anything: a manual, a grocery list, a sketchbook, a recipe booklet, a diary entry, and more. Though these zines are tiny, each one unfolds into a reflection of its creator, and the many infinities that make up every single one of us as creatives.
We’re most excited about the first issue of our zine, Issue 01: Interrobang, which is expected to release this spring-summer! We’ve gathered the work of an incredible group of teen creatives, and we are so ready to share it with the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Philosophical Research Society: Experiences are always the most valuable part of a trip! I think they just hosted a screening of Daisies by Věra Chytilová this past weekend, one of my favorite films. It feels like a perfect place for good conversation and art.

Pop-Hop Co-Op: We’ve been here multiple times, so I’ve been meaning to go to one of their events, and this would be the perfect excuse. The space is so cute, and there is so much worth looking at!

Da Poetry Lounge: I recently met someone that works here through a school poetry event, and they put me on this spot! They do open mics every Tuesday!

North Figueroa Bookshop: We always make friends at this independent bookshop, which hosts a lot of events for readers and writers and has always facilitated the zine community in Northeast LA.

Vidiots: This retro video store and theater is the best place to be introduced to new movies and connect with the community of cinema fans.

Triple Beam Pizza: Philo has had pizza from here on multiple outings, so at this point, it feels somewhat endearing.

Moonlight Rollerway: Philo members have very mixed opinions on rollerskating, but that makes it even better.

Tea at Shiloh: We sent them LA wildfire resource zines to pass out in their space, and it was a really lovely exchange. The space is so beautiful, plus, tea!

The Last Bookstore: I love sitting on the couches on the first floor and visiting the shops upstairs! Last time we went, one of our Philo members actually spent the entire time reading the old tax reports in the vintage book room.

A beach: It’s just one of those things that has to happen, especially if they’re from a non-coastal state!

Magic Castle: We originally planned to go for brunch, but we’ve been waiting for the next Young Adult Night since we were told it’s in its prime at nighttime!

DTLA: Since this is where Philo’s in-person meetings happen, we’d definitely spend time here, checking out our usual spots and maybe finding new ones. Below are a few of our must-see spots:
– Central Library: Home to the Octavia Lab and Philo zinemaking workshops!
– The Westin Bonaventure Hotel: One of our members devotedly comes to write in the beautiful lobby of this architecturally unique building.
– Grand Avenue: From the Disney Concert Hall to the Broad Museum and MOCA, it’s a great cultural area to explore the arts in all forms.
– Grand Central Market: During your outing downtown, this is the perfect place to stop for the lunch of your choice from a wide variety of vendors in a bustling arcade.
– Yuko Kitchen: This cute restaurant near the Regent Theater feels like stepping into a Studio Ghibli movie.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Philo is the grassroots of the grassroots, so we’d love to dedicate this to all of the creatives in our Philo family. Everyone who has contributed to our latest zine or any of our events holds a special place in our hearts, and it is your brilliance that makes this collective what it is. Philo has always been about community, collaboration, and making space for each other, and we wouldn’t be here without the artists, writers, zinesters, and organizers who have poured their energy into this. This is for you!

Instagram: @philozineia

Youtube: @philozineia

Image Credits
Faye Du, Noor Ashima, Alani Mendoza