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The Asian American and Pacific Islander diaspora is vast and diverse, so why would AAPI fashion be any different?
While there the model minority myth suggests that Asian Americans are a monolith, this can not be further from the truth, and AAPI fashion is the perfect visual proof. There is no singular AAPI experience. Though celebrations like AAPI Heritage Month usually center around East Asian Americans, the AAPI diaspore expands far and wide.
From Indian and Taiwanese Americans to Samoan, Cambodian, Laotian, Native Hawaiian, Burmese, and Hmong Americans, AAPI collectives form a rich tapestry in the United States — sometimes more literally than others.
To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, Teen Vogue has rounded up 21 AAPI fashion designers from every inch of the diaspora, in no particular order, to put their talents and designs on your radar.
Geel is here to make you rethink your basics. Founded by Korean-American designer Irene Geel as a pandemic project, Geel’s clothing is designed to be soft and high-quality and worn year-round. Geel went to Parsons School of Design, where she studied fashion design and accessories. The brand is designed in Los Angeles, CA, with slow intentions. As a part of the brand’s sustainability philosophy, Geel releases in small batches to eliminate overproduction and collaborates with ethical manufacturers to minimize waste.
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Growing up doing hula, a sacred native Hawaiian dance and musical practice of storytelling, Rocket Ahuna is translating ʻāina, love of the land, into all of his designs. The young queer Kanaka Maoli fashion designer is working to bring Hawaii’s enduring culture to the mainland by rethinking what contemporary Hawaiian fashion is with the most profound respect. Ahuna debuted his first show in March at Kaimana Beach, Waikiki, entitled KAIMANA, power of the Sea.
South Asian-American designer Sheena Sood leads her brand abacaxi with color. As a child, Sheena Sood would travel to India to visit family which saturated her with a deeper understanding of her roots. Her colorful garments celebrate her heritage with traditional hand-crafted textiles and techniques such as handloom weaving, mirrorwork beading, schiffli embroidery, and plant dyeing.
Designer Allina Liu is voracious when it comes to inspiration. A24 horror films (Midsommar is a personal favorite), Japanese Mizuhiki, and 17th-century Dutch portraiture are just a few of her sources. Despite the seeming coquette layer of bows, frills, and organza, her designs are always more haunted than they seem. Her latest collection, The Final Girl, is a testament to this dichotomy. Before starting her brand in 2015, Liu designed for The Row, Thakoon, Rebecca Taylor, and J.Crew. Since then, she has made her NYFW debut, and her clothing has been worn by the likes of Cardi B, Justine Skye, and Jihye Park.
5. Connie Ren and Hui Qing Wei of Soft Lana
Courtesy of Soft Lana
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