20 Asian And Pacific Islander Fashion Brands That Will Have You Feeling And Looking Your Best

Being the best dressed in a room is not as hard as it seems.

While BuzzFeed celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), we also believe in celebrating the contributions from Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders year-round. Please enjoy this APAHM-themed product post from BuzzFeed Shopping and know that you can enjoy these businesses well beyond this wonderful, dedicated month.

1. Wild Rina

Wild Rina / Via instagram.com

Wild Rina is a California-based clothing brand that creates romantic mixed modern boho women's clothing for the everyday dreamer. The boutique finds fresh takes on trends and has clothing great for various occasions, whether you're dressed for your daily hustle, getting brunch with the besties, working out, staying comfortably at home, or so much more. Founder Brittney Buccat curates each collection piece by piece. As each outfit gives her the confidence to feel bold, fearless, and powerful, she wants you to feel effortlessly confident in everything you wear!

Check out all of their products on Wild Rina.

2. Fang

FANG / Via Instagram: @fang.nyc

Fang is a Chinese-owned, New York-based gender-expansive men's fashion brand that aims to dismantle social expectations for men and redefine the relationship between fashion and gender. Since the brand's launch one year ago, it has created comfy knitwear apparel and is planning to create more gender-inclusive skirts, dresses, rompers, and handbags. 

Founder Fang Guo believes that the future of gender expansion will become more celebrated and that people should have the right to be themselves and not feel they are doing anything wrong if their looks and actions are not a part of the social norm. Guo created Fang for every body type and states, "Bodies aren’t made to look any certain way — just because someone doesn’t fit the society’s beauty standard, it doesn’t define their attractiveness, health, and wellness."

Check out all of their products on Fang. 

3. Tanoa

Tanoa / Via Instagram: @tanoahawaii

Tanoa is a Hawaii-based clothing company that has a mission to bring the rich culture and heritage found in the Pacific Islands to life. "We draw upon the wonder of our Pacific islands, the design of the tatau and elei, our love for God and the strength of our heritage to create our brand." The brand has various collections, including Hoku (stars) in the Polynesian skies that led the way for ancestors to discover new islands, Tiana, Tanu, and Fa'afua.

Check out their products at Tanoa.

4. KOKOLU

KOKOLU / Via instagram.com

Kokolu is a lifestyle brand founded by Luanne Guo and Lucas Tan, who want to combat the harmful effects that the fast fashion industry has on the environment. The brand's latest collection includes their eco-friendly Comfort Knit Sneakers (available in blue, white, and yellow) that are lightweight, durable, grippy, and designed for multi-environment traction. The collection also includes their Daily Eight Tote Bag (available in blue, purple, green, neon orange, yellow, silver, and two limited colors: Barbie pink and lavender). Both products are created from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and other natural materials that can eventually integrate back into nature!

Check out all of their products on Kokolu. 

5. Apricotton

Apricotton / Via Instagram: @apricottongirls

Apricotton is a Chinese-owned teen bra startup created by Jessica Miao and Chloe Beaudoin in order to design bras that grow as first-time bra wearers grow. The founder hopes to normalize unique breast development in order to help those who may be embarrassed about wearing their first bra and prevent overbuying on sizes that they'll grow out of as they grow from a AA to a D-cup. Each piece is invisible under tops, has adjustable straps, and has removable padding in order to make them so ultra-comfortable that you'll forget you're wearing one! 

Check out all of their products on Apricotton. 

6. Mohala Eyewear

@treehouse_production / Mohala Eyewear / Via instagram.com

Mohala Eyewear is a Hawaii-based brand with a mission to make a pair of glasses that fit you perfectly. After discovering that most eyewear options are made for Caucasian features, Asian founder Ashley Mariko Johnson created comfortable eyewear that won't slide down your nose or rest on your cheeks and is customizable to your nose bridge. 

With each pair of glasses sold, Mohala Eyewear donates proceeds to give one week of school with the Room to Read Girl's Education Program. Each purchase helps girls in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Vietnam, where they are taught life skills, given local mentors, receive material support, and experience community engagement.

Check out all of their products on Mohala Eyewear.

7. M.M.LaFleur

https://M.M.LaFleur / Via Instagram: @mmlafleur

M.M.LaFleur is a Japanese-owned brand that celebrates women through thoughtfully designed clothing created to increase stylish and practical workwear options. Some pieces get inspired by the founders' Japanese heritage, and they even use production techniques by Japanese artisans in some pieces! The brand makes sure their clothes have functional details (like adjustable hems and bra-strap holders), comfort (so comfy you can nap in them), and style. 

M.M.LaFleur is also committed to community and sustainability, as they've donated thousands of pieces of clothing to Bottomless Closet, which helps disadvantaged New York City women enter the workforce. They even have a customer-to-customer resale site called Second Act where you can buy and sell pre-loved M.M. items.

Check out all of their products on M.M.LaFleur. 

8. ShopCJW

Shop CJW / Via Instagram: @shopcjw

ShopCJW is a New York–based fashion brand created by Christina J. Wang whose designs are filled with playfulness to inspire your next great adventure. The shop includes various fashion items, including scarves, loungewear, facemasks, shoes, and more. Each item is made from the finest material in order to create the super soft fabric so your pajamas can give you a great night's sleep, and you can pick from their various collections, including For the Foodie, For the Animal Lover, and For the Travel Enthusiast! 

Check out all their products on ShopCJW.

9. Narra

Photographer: Patrick Panganiban / NARRA / Via instagram.com

Narra creates apparel, prints, and accessories curated by the storytellers at Wong Fu Productions to encapsulate the Asian American experience. The shop tells these stories by designing original art and by collaborating with talented artists and creatives. For example, the above photo by Patrick Panganiban shows model Jeffrey Chang in Narra's "Like Father Like Son" Crewneck. Artist Linda Chung designed this crewneck to showcase the classic Asian dad/granddad stance we grew up seeing, and possibly imitating, where they slowly walk around the area with hands comfortably positioned behind the back. Narra has many other designs that tell the very specific stories that Asian Americans have experienced growing up, and I'm sure they will give you a warm (and cozy) nostalgic feeling.

Check out all of their products at Narra.

10. Tanisi

Tanisi / Via instagram.com

Tanisi is an Indian-owned, Chicago-based ethically produced fashion brand with designs from mother-daughter duo Shreya and Axi Patel. In addition to dresses, the brand also creates tops & tunics, scarves & wraps, and dusters. Each piece is handmade in order to keep traditional crafts alive, boast grandeur, finesse, and unique aesthetic quality, as well as support the livelihood of skilled artisans. As an eco-sensitive and evolving fashion brand, they use and repurpose fabrics in order to reduce waste and carbon footprint and minimize the use of resources. 

Check out all of their products on Tanisi.

11. Alterre

Alterre / Via instagram.com

Alterre is a New York–based footwear company that focuses on creating beautiful modular shoes for busy women with the added bonus of interchangeable straps and the option to design your own shoe. Cofounders Harmony Pilobello and Shilpa Iyengar value versatility and sustainability, and the pair were determined to start Alterre ethically. They source various materials, including recycled plastic, recycled denim, traceable leather, chrome-free leather, and deadstock fabric that have a lower impact on the environment whenever possible when creating footwear. 

Also, 5% of each Alterre purchase is donated to Restore NYC to help the organization provide long-term rehabilitation for survivors of sex trafficking in New York City.

Check out all of their products at Alterre.

12. Girlfriend Collective

Girlfriend Collective / Via Instagram: @girlfriend

Girlfriend Collective is based in Seattle and focuses on the production of minimal, luxurious, and eco-friendly activewear. With recyclable packaging and products created from recycled materials like post-consumer water bottles, fishing nets retrieved from the seas, fabric scraps, and other waste, you can dress eco-conscious all at a great price point.

Check out all their products on Girlfriend Collective.

13. JW Pei

JW PEI / Via Instagram: @jwpei_official

JW Pei is a Los Angeles–based accessories brand founded by a husband and wife duo. The inspiration behind the brand was the idea that fashion should be accessible, effortless, and empowering. Minimalist design in sustainable vegan materials is at the heart of the brand.

Check out their products at JW Pei.

14. Wear Pepper

Wear Pepper / Via Instagram: @wearpepper

Pepper is creating a community for women with small chests who have been overlooked by traditional bras. Their bras are designed for all manner of smaller chests and are founded by women and for women.

Check out their products at Wear Pepper.

15. Baggu

Baggu / Via Instagram: @baggu

Baggu is a Japanese-inspired, sustainable company that produces bags, apparel, and more. Before environmental sustainability became the trend and widespread focus it is now, Emily Sugihara noticed the abundance of affordable, stylish, reusable bags in Japan. After becoming a designer for a national clothing brand, she went on to partner with her mother to start Baggu.  

Check out all their products at Baggu.

16. Chunks

Chunks / Via Instagram: @chunks.shop

Chunks is a cute, quirky accessory brand based in Seattle and founded by Tiffany Ju. According to their website, Tiffany started this company because she "couldn't find a cute hair clip." It's expanded from being based out of her basement to a small, dedicated team in Jinhua, China. They are committed to manufacturing transparency and dispelling the negative stereotypes surrounding “made in China.”

Check out their products at Chunks.

17. Ziran

@taryndudleyphoto / Ziran / Via Instagram: @theziran

Ziran is a sustainable silk line base on storytelling, purpose, and cultural heritage. By using xiang yun sha silk, Ziran is helping to preserve and protect an ancient tradition while leading a new generation to live the Ziran way: natural, spontaneous, and free.

Check out their products at Ziran.

18. Yes She May

Yes She May / Via Instagram: @yesshemay

Yes She May was born in April 2020 out of pandemic turmoil, fear, desperation, and incredible determination. Mei Xu, founder and CEO of Yes She May, built this site with a mission to elevate women-owned businesses, giving consumers the opportunity to discover well-designed products made for women by women. 

Check out their products at Yes She May.

19. Pomelo

Pomelo / Via Instagram: @pomelofashion

Pomelo is a Southeast Asian clothing company with design studios in Bangkok.  Their mission is to offer women everywhere their best look to become their best selves.

Check out their products at Pomelo.

20. At The Venue

At The Venue / Via instagram.com

At The Venue is a Chinese-owned brand that spotlights upcycled and sustainable knitwear that will help you look cute and feel light during the upcoming summer days. The fabric used to create these pieces consists of scraps and trims, so most designs are one-of-a-kind. The brand is committed to sustainable production practices and collaborates with other brands that execute their business practices similarly.

Check out all of their products at At The Venue.

Support AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Go follow @buzzfeedapop to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round! P.S. Love this art? Learn more about these amazing AAPI activists here.

BuzzFeed / Kathy Hoang