Meet America's Blooming Asian Creatives

Being Asian in America is a silent struggle. You don’t know who to be in Western-American culture, because you don’t see people like yourself in Western-American Culture. Self-growth is a far different experience when you are dealing with being what America wants you to be and being what America expects you to be.

I spoke to four amazing women about their unique experiences with self-growth as an Asian individual in America and how that translates through their style.

Alice is giving the whole Asian community an impulse to spontaneously dye their hair. She’s a Chinese American illustrator and being “pretty” is just not good enough for her. When asked about how she’s changed in the last few months Alice said, “I’ve found who I really want to be and how I want to express myself.” She went on to talk about how growing up with traditional Chinese values in her household held her style back and kept her from deviating from the proper “lady-like” wardrobe that was expected of her. Alice spoke about how her creative moments experimenting with clothing would end in discussions with her family about her appearance. “My parents and my grandparents would say, ‘Oh, you’re dressing like a boy today. You should wear more feminine clothes.’”, she said, “That’s what they grew up with.”. Although her style was contained for a period of time, Alice notes that these expectations aren’t going to last long and even now the times are gradually becoming more accepting. In spite of this progression, judgement can simply not be avoided and Alice recognized that saying, “For Asians we feel like we’re unable to speak our mind, because we’re kind of a ‘push over’ and that’s the stereotype of us.” Struggling with this constant awareness that people are always going to judge the way we look and speak creates an even stronger distance from the knowledge of how valuable and impressionable our voice is. Alice’s understanding of this has contributed to the boldness she has chosen to live out everyday and she explains, “I found that slowly gaining more confidence and saying what I want to say and expressing my thoughts and opinions also resonated in my style. That combined with my confidence drew more people in.” Alice is now, and has always been, the girl who knows what she’s about.

Maddie is a Vietnamese American photographer who is currently interested in fine art photography. She said, “I want to focus more on concept. It’s not about having my pictures in magazines everywhere. I don’t need that. I want to make a difference in this world and I believe I can do that through photography.” Her bona fide passion for the arts is similar to her approach towards life, even down to the clothes she puts on. “I like to be simple. I like to have purpose with my clothing. I like to be aware of what I put on.” she explained. When I asked Maddie about her style’s color palette she said it included mostly neutrals, but that “Red is always a good pop of color. It gives the best emphasis.” Although her confidence and certainty is unrestrained, Maddie admits that it was a process. She notes growing up in a white community and the experiences she dealt with, “The past few years I’ve been kind of floating in trying to become someone my hometown would have accepted.” She didn’t grow up in an Asian household so her reality was a bit different from other Asian Americans. Now, focusing on Asian culture has been a fixation of hers, especially its influential significance in this world. I interviewed Maddie in her impressive in-home-studio. She eats, sleeps, and creates in the same space and that kind of commitment to one’s work will take them a long way. The world will be seeing more of Maddie.

Apple is a Chinese fashion designer. She has been studying abroad in North America since she was fourteen and she goes back to visit her family in China on breaks. She spoke about the struggles that come with living halfway across the globe. “All of my friends are in North America, so I definitely feel the loneliness.” she said, “but that’s how I reconnect with my culture.” She lived in Canada throughout her four years of high school before moving to Savannah, GA for college. Apple mentioned feeling the most confused with her Asian identity while being there. “I was really lost in my style. I was confused, because people here dress different than Chinese people. I didn’t know if I should try to imitate their style or if I should keep my own style, which was really Chinese.” Apple said, “Chinese and childish.” It was in Canada where she felt the most aware of the reality of judgment. “I felt like people were always judging me for what I look like. I think that’s why I kept on copying their style.” She had a strong desire to branch out and create her own aesthetic, but she didn’t feel like she could do that until she arrived in Savannah. “In Savannah, I see a lot of people living passionately.” Apple said. “Here, I’m with a lot of art students and I don’t feel uncomfortable at all.”. When asked to describe her aesthetic, Apple said “Anything that looks good on me and something that expresses my personality.” When asked to describe her personality, she said “I’m really transparent. I really like to be vulnerable.” That has all contributed to her confidence. From the way she carries herself to the outfits she picks out, Apple has effortlessly fearless poise. She gives a lot of credit for her growth to her “multi-cultured” lifestyle, “I really appreciate the fact that I get to travel a lot, so I can experience the differences between each country.” Although, she admits that her wardrobe is heavily influenced by Western culture, she wants to “reconnect with her roots” and use inspiration from traditional Chinese garments in her own fashion designs. The pieces are bound to be just as rare and unparalleled as the designer herself.

Natharina, or “Nat”, is a Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese American actress and performer. She explained the considerable lack of ease minorities face when trying to gain performance opportunities, “It’s hard not to judge yourself. Especially, because that’s what it’s all about. If I don’t get a part there’s always going to be a part of me that’s like, ‘Oh, was it because I was too Asian?’ or ‘Am I too short?’.” She noted that people are really looking for a specific type, “Someday I’m gonna be exactly what someone is looking and then I’m really gonna be exactly what someone is not looking for.” Among all of this, there is still a compulsive tendency to criticize ourselves for our absent eurocentric beauty standards is too real and Nat admitted that it’s prevalent in her life outside of work too. Despite what she’s dealt with, she continues to grow and this past summer was a tremendous transition period for her, especially in fashion, “I’m starting to discover new styles that I actually like and that I’m more comfortable with.” She pressed that it’s really about “trial and error” and “getting out of my little box that’s too small and just needs to keep expanding”. Fashion, in particular, has always been something very positive in her life. Nat’s mom also carries a love for fashion and that area of self-expression has been one she just hasn’t had to negate. Nat is an Asian creative growing, “loving herself” and taking every opportunity she can to flourish. That is something to be celebrated.