From her YouTube channel (which has gotten 43 million + views):
I am 100% Korean (adopted. born in Seoul, Korea. Lived in the US since I was 3 months old.)
"i'm no beauty queen, i'm just beautiful me. YOU'VE GOT EVERY RIGHT, TO A BEAUTIFUL LIFE. ♡ ...i wouldn't wanna be anybody else."
I am grateful, thankful but not indebted.
- Holly
Akufuncture, a Chinese culture inspired clothing brand, launches its sixth season today – drawing inspiration from the historical Imperial Palace to create looks for a contemporary audience.
This season introduces two new tee's: The Guardian Lion tee and Imperial Guard tee – both important symbols in the ancient Chinese Kingdom. The Guardian Lion tee features the lion as the traditional guard of palaces, tombs, temples, and more, stepping on a custom Akufuncture ball. The Imperial Guard tee features a depiction of the flying fish, representing the uniform commonly worn by guards who were bodyguards and the Emperor's secret police.
This season also introduces two exciting new additions to Akufuncture's product line:
- Snap back hats available in both black and grey
- Crewneck sweaters with signature brushstroke “AKU” design
A revamped throwback Urban Monkey King tee and MK2 are also available, as are tank
tops and cardigans from past seasons.
Akufuncture's new season is available for purchase through their website at
akufunture.com as well as several retail locations:
- Authentix: 143 Harvard Ave. #A Claremont, CA 91711
- Gallery Nucleus: 210 E. Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801
- Lower Hater: 597 Haight St., San Francisco, CA 94117
ABOUT AKUFUNCTURE
Established in 2009, Akufuncture is dedicated to creating Chinese-inspired fashion, riding the fine dichotomy between high fashion and street-wear. Stories of journey, luxury, struggle, and romance – the cultural mystique and ancient heroes of China have fueled inspiration in global fashion for generations. Now, Akufuncture aims to create a clothing line that brings to life a culture with much influence, yet with a history that is lesser known.
For more information, please contact Samuel Wang at sam@akufuncture.com or (909) 638-2168.
Phuong My (3rd from the right)
You link.
Nice collection.
And glad I at least saw some women of color and an Asian face sporting the clothes.
Honestly - I'm not sure how I feel about this because the more that Asian American men get accolades in the design and fashion industry the more I'll be forced - or at least expected - to do something with this mop of a fro I have in the mornings versus just leaving it as is and scaring the bejeezus out of the people who work the drive-thru at McDonalds in the morning.
I think the title of this post says it all because if you like fashion, the API community, guests like Michelle Phan and Ellesse - and let's just say it - smoking hot celebrity models - I would very much expect fierce, fun, and of course, fasion.
Tickets are on sale now! Sponsored by Ketel One Vodka, Audrey Magazine is hosting Audrey’s Night Out 2010, a fashion event bringing the Asian American community together for an evening of fashion, fantasy and fun!Get more down at the Audrey site.
Collaborating with some of the most exciting talent in the fashion, entertainment and music industries, Audrey’s Night Out will include hot celebrity and professional models in the coolest fall fashion, amazing musical performances you won’t wanna miss, and a fabulous star-studded after-party with hosted bar.
Get your tickets now, and don’t delay. Not only do tickets sell out fast every year, but fashion show seating is assigned based on order of ticket purchase. Don’t be stuck standing — get your tickets now!
Getting front page news on the NY Times as Fashion Week apparently draws close (because I had no idea before I read this article) it seems like Asian American and Asian designers are getting all of the hype - and people are noticing.
The mood was set early at the American fashion awards ceremony at Lincoln Center in June, an event often likened to the Oscars of the fashion world, with a guest list that included celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwyneth Paltrow and almost every top designer. In quick succession, three men were called to the stage to accept their awards as the best new designers of the year: Richard Chai for men’s wear, Jason Wu for women’s wear and Alexander Wang for accessories. It was the first time that all three prizes given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America were awarded to designers who are Asian-American [...]Just for the record - I really can sew - albeit not that good...
Their ascent to the top tier of New York fashion represents an important demographic shift on Seventh Avenue. At the Fashion Week that begins here on Thursday, many of the most promising new designers are of Asian descent, a group that includes Mr. Wang and Mr. Wu; Thakoon Panichgul, one of the stars of the documentary “The September Issue,” about Vogue magazine; Prabal Gurung; Phillip Lim; and Derek Lam — names that are increasingly likely to represent the future of fashion.
Two dresses for the Chelsea Clinton wedding + dresses for the bridesmaids = nice gig if you can get it.
While it makes for a good picture can I just say that I think Jason looks a little better than Rachel in this picture?
She's a little shiny ya know?
Still cute, but shiny nonetheless (and I say that with full knowledge that I'm shiny 100% all of the time because ugly people are just like that).
And BTW
Who the hell knew he also designed cellphones?
Sure they're from GE but they still look pretty.
From the Oskar Ly bulletin:
Come to the 3rd annual Fresh Traditions fashion show at Epic Nightclub on 10.10.09! Mark your calendar for this awesome event featuring an exclusive pre-show of my newest collection and some talented hmoob fashion designers!Cool.
Find something hot to wear, grab a friend and come enjoy the evening with us!
Just in case you happened to miss it there's a pretty good article down at the Wall Street Journal on the rise of Asian American fashion designers, their take on what they do and how they realize their own American Dream - how it's different for them versus some of their family members who didn't grow up or weren't born in the States - as well as how even though they do want to be recognized for their individual work that they can't also help but feel a sense of pride in seeing more folks like us in the fashion industry.
If you like fashion, and want to support a good cause - this is for you:
Attention local fashionistas – Be the first to experience fresh and eclectic collections from 10 up-and-coming fashion designers at APAture Runway III, featuring LA-based eco-couture designer Linda Wong of The Battalion.
Our lineup of emerging Asian American designers includes Heather Guevarra (Gingerbread Clothing), Amy Ho, Faithy Leong, Jarvinia Li, I Shan Liou, Loretta K Nguyen (fiftyseven-thirtythree), Erica Varize (Evarize), Brian Yee (Bok Choy Apparel), and Shani Solomon (MXW). Take home clothes hot off the runway by bidding in our live auction of designers goods!
All proceeds benefit KSW’s 11th annual APAture, a multidisciplinary arts festival of emerging Asian Pacific American artists, happening September 17-26.
Event Name: APAture Runway III
Venue Name: SOMArts Cultural Center
Venue Address: 934 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Contact Phone: (415) 503-0520
Short Description:
Third Annual Fashion Show of Emerging Asian American Designers
Co-presented by Kearny Street Workshop and APICC
Admission: $10-20 sliding scale at the door or $8 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com.
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time: 7:30-10:30 PM
Website: http://www.kearnystreet.org
Got this sent out to me and it sounds like it's going to be a cool event:
When: July 2, 2009Runways, doing something good, and hot Asian American models strutting their stuff.
Where: 2630 University Avenue, Minneapolis.
Cost: $15 Advance $20 At The Door
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 PM (Doors open at 6:00)
Guest Appearances By Bee Vang and Ahney Her from Gran Torino. Hosted By Giovonnie Sammuels (Bring it On, Freedom Writers) and Billy Ray Gallion (Lost, Charmed, X-Files). Performance by Gina Hiraizumi.
Fashion Designers: Mary & Aneta Ly, Jade Lush Designs, Chue Feng Xiong, Gow Hnou, Muas by Vam Txhiaj Moua, and Mitsou Ly.
While I do agree with you that we don't actually need clothes to look good, we still do have laws that don't permit us to run around in the buff all the time, and for those instances (which I despise) you can hit up Twin Armada which puts a nice emphasis on us (which would be Asian people).
And I don't know about you, but for some odd reason I might be more inclined to buy clothes from a store that at least models the clothes on people that resemble me versus those that don't even come close to my skin tone and hair color.
Call me crazy.
Mark your calendars for this Saturday if you're down for fashion Asian American style:
Saturday March 21, 2009And sure, you too may think jeans are fashionable (because I'm the same way) - but the money is going to charity - so just suck it up and at least put on some khakis (because technically they don't say anything about shoes...).
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
LandCo./7 Senses
1202 N. Industrial Blvd.
(Complimentary valet on Howell St.)
Dallas, TX 75207
Join guest emcees Tina Craig (uberblogger of Bagsnob.com) & David Ninh (fashion reporter for Dallas Morning News F!D Luxe) at one of Dallas' coolest best kept secrets, LandCo./7 Senses, for a fabulous evening to celebrate emerging and established Asian American designers and raise money for a worthy cause.
Enjoy a red carpet fashion show by women's retailer Freedom Parc and up and coming designers Aiden Vo, Kim Phuong Pham, Khanh Nguyen & Lizzi London. (They will even auction off a few pieces for charity!)
Don't miss the to-die-for clothes, beautiful models, tasty light bites by City Kitchen, adult beverages (including our signature "Pink Lotus" cocktail), musical stylings of DJ Prada G and fabulous raffle prizes! With appearances by Miss Asian American Texas (Allyn Hoang) & Miss Vietnam Dallas/Ft. Worth (Alex Tran).
Dress: Fashionable cocktail, no jeans or sneakers.
The NY Times has a good video interview with fasion designer Alexander Wang and his take on how fasion is changing and the pressures that the industry faces.
Check it out here.
Thao Sophi Nguyen
Happened to catch this via Asiance Magazine that Thao Sophi Nguyen was the winner of the 2008 Viet Model Project which is kind of like ANTM except without Tyra Banks, and with Vietnamese American models - so if you're interested, you can check out some more pics of Thao Sophie Nguyen (because the one above is just the standard head shot) as well as an interview down at AM.
I don't have any problems with cleavage in the same way I don't have issues with showing off your six pack abs - hey - you got it, you should flaunt it (especially if you're standing next to me and you think six pack abs are hotter than my nacho belly - because that means I'll make you look good, and if you've got six pack abs most likely that matters to you).
At the same time I'm not exactly sure that the word classy means showing 1/4 boob on each side (which makes a 1/2 a boob altogether), but that's how omg! described the above photo of Tila Tequila in their Best and Worst Dressed at the VMAs:
Best: Reality TV "star" Tila Tequila kept it classy for once in a white shirt, belted black vest, and tuxedo pants.I mean it's a nice outfit, it works well, and it's also appropriate for the VMAs - so don't get me wrong - but I really do think whenever you can fit a whole cigar (or at least a cigarette) between the cleavage, the outfit really can't be described as classy anymore.
There's a somewhat interesting article down at the IHT on the current wave of Asian and Asian American designers - and one of the reasons I say "somewhat" is simply because they use the term "ying and yang" when describing the the mixture of West Coast and the East Coast - I mean seriously - let's get past it:
The parents of the current Asian generation are indeed classic achievers on the model of the Jewish communities who settled in the Garment District of New York. "We used to be the manufacturers, but we can also become designers - it's a generational thing - a natural evolution," says Lam, who has "warm childhood memories" of his grandparents' bridal business in San Francisco. The seamstresses became his "aunties" as he watched them wrap fabric around chopsticks to create spaghetti straps.Read it in full.
