FIVE AAPI SMALL BRANDS I HAVE IN MY CLOSET
Amy Liu, Contributor
Sustainable Fashion/Vintage Lover
May 5, 2024
Amy Liu in the NUNCHI Diamond Pattern Herringbone Necklace
Growing up, there were not many Asian clothing brands that I knew of. I love that nowadays through social media, people can more easily discover small brands and emerging designers. As a working NYC, fashion-loving gal with disposable income now, I'm able to support brands that have the same values as I do. For AAPI Heritage Month, I wanted to highlight five AAPI small clothing brands that I have personally purchased from and why I love them. Like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City once said, "I like my money right where I can see it: hanging in my closet".
Allina Liu
ALLINA LIU
Allina Liu is for all the girls who love romantic silhouettes and dainty details with a touch of darkness. I was first drawn to Liu's pieces because of the girly bow details, ruffles, and delicate cutouts. Her attention to details inspires me to look at clothing and styling differently. After reading more into her inspirations and references to her favorite horror movies and Shibari, the Japanese art of bondage, I loved her designs even more. Liu's designs also touches upon her own experiences of exploring sexuality as an Asian American, which resonates with me as an Asian American woman myself.
LEEANN HUANG
LEEANN HUANG
I first discovered LEEANN HUANG when her lenticular fruit tees came up on my Instagram Explore page. An immediate wave of nostalgia flooded over me, bringing me back to my childhood. Specifically my summers spent in Taiwan, where my grandmother gave me her collection of Snoopy lenticular trading cards that she redeemed at the 7-11 convenience store. When I saw Huang's SS24 collection, I immediately knew I needed the Blinking Eye Tank. Wearable for the spring/summer time but still fun and a bit weird in the best way, Huang elevates the classic graphic tee. I love the fantastical nature that Huang brings to her designs, something missing in today's ready-to-wear sector in my opinion. Not only are Huang's designs unique, all the pieces are made from post-consumer recycled or deadstock materials and produced in small batches.
Okko
AMY LIU | OKKO
As a fashion girl who also prioritizes comfort, I was so glad that I found okko. Their signature bra and briefs with seamless edges (yes, actually seamless) and silky fabrics truly make you forget that you're wearing anything under your clothes. I love that okko aims to bring comfort to women of all shapes and sizes with sizes ranging from XS to XXXL; okko's founder, Phoebe Kunitomi, gathered feedback from over 100 women to perfect the fit and feel of their products. My own underwear drawer is slowly being overtaken by okko because they are just that comfortable.
Geel
GEEL
Designed and produced in small batches, Geel creates timeless and super soft pieces that can be worn all year round. Geel stands out to me amongst the sea of brands that produce basics because of their intentional designs in how their pieces look and feel on the body. Geel's philosophy focuses on adaptability and endless possibilities; I find myself consistently reaching for my Drew top (I loved it so much I bought it in another color) and when I wear it, I feel a sense of comfort but also confidence.
Bobblehaus
AMY LIU | BOBBLEHAUS
Nowadays, so many clothing brands call themselves a collective, a community, a lifestyle, etc. but rarely do they hold up to that name. Not Bobblehaus. Classified as a sustainable & genderless retail & creative space built by and for our communities on their website, they are exactly that. On the clothing brand side, Bobblehaus creates genderfree designs, like their popular mesh printed, and they are committed to only using left-over fabric. But what I really admire about Bobblehaus is their commitment to their local community. Their NYC retail space has hosted a plethora of cool events, bringing together not only the Asian-American community but just people in general who resonate with their message of being unapologetically themselves. They also work with many NYC based small-businesses, artists, and groups to give back. A favorite of mine was their series of mahjong community nights with Green Tile Social Club.
AMY LIU
Amy is a fashion content creator based in New York City, focused on sustainable and vintage fashion. She also explores other fashion and cultural topics on her substack newsletter.