I tell fashion stories with a social impact angle (diversity, inclusion, politics, ethical production, etc.), stories about diverse women catalysts who are leading change, & I cover music/art/culture.
How Paris Fashion Introduced Me to the Global Asian Diaspora and Made Me Realize Just How American I Am
Raised in California by Filipino and Chinese parents, I grew up identifying as an Asian American. I suppose that is also how society saw me: Asian first, American second. For a while, I didn’t really mind. After all, I had a strong cultural identity and I was proud of my heritage. But four years ago, I moved to France, and suddenly I had to learn how to navigate a new existence: abroad, I am American first, Asian second.
As a writer and fashion journalist working in Paris, I have the opportun...
Building a Sustainable Wardrobe on a Budget
Are you interested in building an ethical wardrobe, but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you find the cost intimidating and don’t think you have pockets deep enough to belong in the movement. If this concern hits home, don’t feel alone. After all, ethical brands are indeed more expensive than conventional brands, and not everyone can afford it.
This is why the ethical fashion movement has been accused of being elitist, and why questions arise as to who can actually participate in it. After ...
Sustainable Fashion’s Race Problem
The summit and the report heavily focused on topics ranging from transparency, circularity, material innovation, digitization to automation and more. Disappointingly, worker’s rights and fair wages were only briefly mentioned (the topic covered only 6.5 pages out of 126), giving it the air of an afterthought. While it is encouraging to see so many of the fashion industry’s who’s who come together to talk about sustainability, the report and summit were remiss in addressing a core truth: that the fashion industry is built on the oppression of black and brown women, an institutionalized form of
Our Top 10 Favs: Sustainable & Ethical Brand Roundup
Remake’s 10 Favorites: Sustainable & Ethical Brand Roundup
Ready to build your ethical wardrobe but not sure where to begin? Fear not Remakers, we have done all the hard work for you! We carefully vet brands against our stellar sustainability index, so that you can walk into summer rocking styles that are pro-women and the planet.
From summer dresses, to tops and jeans, chic sneakers to accessories, here are our top 10 favorite brands. Who says you can’t be sexy and sustainable at the same ti...
The most charming places to sip Champagne in Paris
Legally, for a sparkling wine to be called Champagne, its grapes must come from the Champagne region of France, and the way it is produced must adhere to the rules of the appellation.Therefore, drinking champagne in France is a rather special treat. If you aren’t able to make it to the Champagne region for a taste, the next best thing is to grab a glass of bubbly in Paris, where you can find several special places to enjoy it, straight from the source. Here, we’ve discovered a few extraordina...
Crafting a niche perfume brand
French perfume storyteller Chantal Roos is behind iconic perfumes Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, Le Mâle by Jean-Paul Gaultier, L’eau d’Issey by Issey Miyake. Her daughter, Alexandra Roos, grew up surrounded by the world’s most captivating scents: “perfume is a part of my genes. I’ve inherited it,” she says. Together, they crafted a selection of fragrance - Bloody Rose, Sympathy for the Sun, Nymphessence,... - under the label Roos & Roos.
Alexandra Roos, a musician in her previous life, brings ...
Taiwanese-American Stylist Aims to Give 'Fast Fashion' an Ethical Makeover
After many years as a stylist, Mai-Lei Pecorari knows a thing or two about the power of clothing to create a transformation. In an industry notorious for wreaking havoc on the people and the planet, the veteran stylist is making a transformation of her own into the ethical fashion movement.
Two Years After Typhoon Haiyan, Handbag Line Continues to Help
When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November 2013, designer Renee Patron witnessed her mother’s entire home ripped apart.
“It was like a scary movie, like the devil was coming," Patron told NBC News. "I looked at my parents and thought, 'This is how we’re going to die.'”
After four hours of hiding in the downstairs closet of her mother’s home, the violent thrashes of the typhoon finally came to a stop. When she walked outside, Patron said it looked like an atomic bomb hit. Everything h...
Meet the Founder of the Fashion Brand 'Rallying' for a Cause
Olivia Rose Fay was content with her career as a marketing professional for high fashion brands — like Prada, Cartier, and Alberta Ferreti — but when she saw the documentary "Girl Rising," everything changed.
“When I saw the documentary, it was impossible for me not to relate personally," Fay told NBC News about the documentary, which focuses on access and equality when it comes to girls' education. "I saw glimmers of myself, my mother, and my grandmother in the film’s stories. It was heartbr...
A visit of Martin Margiela's Retrospective Exhibition at Palais Galliera
The name Martin Margiela evokes an air of mystery. While his work is notorious for defying traditions of Paris Fashion, the man himself remains invisible, choosing to forego photographs and interviews early on in his career. This season in Paris, however, the public is invited to a rare admission into the designer’s universe.
From now until July 15th, the Palais Galliera in Paris is hosting a retrospective exhibit of the Belgian designer’s work, spanning from 1989-2009. The exhibit draws from...
Two Neighbors: Israeli and Palestinian Women Create a Pathway to Peace Through Fashion
The recent violence in Gaza has brought one of the world’s most contentious political conflicts to new intensities, leading the world to wonder if the Middle East is further from peace than ever. In the face of tragedy and devastation, however, is a small ...
Vivienne Westwood: Activist or Queen of Greenwash?
Vivienne Westwood has garnered quite a reputation for being fashion’s grand dame of punk and activism. She’s the subject of a new documentary by British director Lorna Tucker, entitled Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist, set for release this Spring. The film is already stirring controversy as Westwood publicly denounced it, claiming that the film does not give enough coverage to her activism. According to the designer, her activism ranks even higher on her priority list than fashion.
On the surfa...
Designer Carolina Herrera, South Korea Collaborate To 'Reveal Elegant Beauty' of Korean Hanbok
The Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hanbok Advancement Center has partnered with internationally acclaimed fashion designer Carolina Herrera to launch a new collaboration around the Korean hanbok in hopesto give it a fresh take. Merging traditional with contemporary, the project presents three looks that reflect the signature aesthetic of the House of Herrera, while retaining the essence of the traditional hanbok.
Concept Korea Takes the 'Korean Wave' to New York Fashion Week
Korean pop music and beauty products have spread across the world in recent years, with conventions dedicated to Korean culture taking place in the United States and South Korea exporting nearly $800 million more in beauty products than it imported in 2014. As New York Fashion Week (NYFW) launches this week, Korean fashion designers will contend that Korean fashion is the next big thing.
Asian Designers Bring Diverse Perspectives, Visions to New York Fashion Week
From messages of cultural harmony to edgy inspirations sparked by body art, Asian designers brought a diverse range of perspective and vision at this month's New York Fashion Week.
A handful of designers shared their personal take on their fall/winter ready-to-wear collections with NBC Asian America, and offered an inside look to the story behind their inspirations this season.
Yuna Yang
Yuna Yang has dedicated her fall/winter 2016 collection to her personal dream of “No Borders” between reli...