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20 Asian-Owned Clothing Brands to Shop in 2025

20 Asian-Owned Clothing Brands to Shop in 2025

Cosmopolitan19-05-2025

There's an endless amount of clothing brands out there to shop from. Like, it's hard to keep track of all the cool new labels that pop up every other day, especially if you're trying to be a more mindful shopper and give love to small businesses that resonate with you. So if you're tired of fast fashion and are looking for Asian-owned clothing brands to support, we put together a list of Asian designers and founders that should be on your radar. From colorful knitwear and jade jewelry to luxe silks inspired by traditional motifs, there's something here for everyone.
Some of the brands below are high-end and more established while others on this list are more up-and-coming and relatively new, but all of them warrant your attention for their too-good-to-be-true selection. And if you want to check out Black-owned brands, Indian fashion designers, and Latina-owned businesses, we have those, too! Keep scrolling below for 35 Asian-owned clothing brands and accessory brands that you'll want to start shopping immediately.
Created by husband and wife duo Yang Pei and Stephanie Li, this bag brand boasts accessible, affordable, trendy designs that often use vegan leather and recycled plastic. The pieces have been spotted on many a celeb and look more expensive than they actually are, which is great news for your wallet.
Founded by three Singaporean women, Love, Bonito is synonymous with wardrobe classics for the long haul. Whether it's workwear or something sparkly, there's a style in mind for every kind of shopper.
Launched just a few years ago in 2023, Maile is a designer shoe and accessory brand that often features fun silhouettes, bright colors, and whimsical embellishments like pearls and feathers.
If this chic French brand isn't on your radar, it should be. Jessy Chu founded the brand after the birth of her son as a new creative endeavor to establish her identity outside of the home, and the slinky fabrics, romantic floral motifs, and Chinese-inspired detailing are to die for.
Clare Ngai founded her accessory brand BonBonWhims in the summer of 2020. Two words to describe it: Maximalist and Y2K. You can count on BonBonWhims for the most vibrant selection of jewels and accessories that'll make any outfit pop.
Join co-founders Jackie Skye Muller (a Barneys and Kith alum) and Marlon Muller on the court! The couple created Recreational Habits to "bring the exclusive world of the preppy elite and their hobbies to the historically excluded." Shop their tenniscore looks like crewnecks, varsity shorts, playful skirts, and more.
Liang's signature fleece outerwear and ballet flats are covetable Cool Girl staples, and she's also done collabs with Vans, Salomon, and Spongebob Squarepants. The New York native is definitely a designer that the coquette girlies can't get enough of.
Chinese-American designer Jessica Tse started this jewelry brand in 2018, and it has a playful, youthful aesthetic with sophisticated flair thanks to the fun shapes and pearl accents she sprinkles throughout.
With organic shapes, flowers, stars, and silver galore, Kara Yoo makes jewelry for the girls who want everyday pieces with a unique, artsy twist. Take a scroll through the website and don't blame me when you get sucked in!
Created by founders Phillip Lim and Wen Zhou, the brand debuted in 2005 at New York Fashion Week and spent the next 20 years expanding their empire into other categories like bags, shoes, and menswear.
The Chinese-American designer was born in San Francisco and launched his namesake label in 2003. He went on to launch a contemporary line in 2011 called Derek Lam 10 Crosby, which he now focuses exclusively on.
If you need a dress that'll wow, Miss Circle has you covered. Founded by Isabel Deng, the brand is known for timeless-yet-trendy sundresses, cute minis, and sparkly, va-va-voom gowns that are sure to please (Nara Smith wore one in a recent video!).
Created by Wei Lin and Zoe Champion, PH5's knitwear is so cute and often features wavy, futuristic prints. Signature details like asymmetrical hemlines and scalloped edges lend unique details to classic silhouettes.
Born and raised in Bangladesh, Saima Chowdhury founded sustainable label Grey State in 2015. If you're in need of comfortable, stylish pieces that are perfect for living life in, this is the brand for you.
Private Policy was founded by Haoran Li and Siying Qu, who graduated from Parsons in May 2015. The unisex label has designs for everyone with a range of sizing and genderless styles.
Dauphinette designer Olivia Cheng turns out such happy, imaginative designs. You'll find lots of feathers, fresh flowers, pretty prints, nature elements (see: the Dauphinette beetle pins) and funky designs.
Both Chinese and French, Joseph Altuzarra studied ballet for years before he got into the fashion industry. He founded his namesake label in 2008 and his pieces have a modern aesthetic that are chic and timeless.
Born in Singapore and raised in Nepal, Prabal Gurung has so many romantic, dreamy pieces like these Cinderella-esque chiffon gowns. He founded the brand in 2009 and has dressed countless A-listers, including Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton, since.
A Brooklyn-based Vietnamese designer, Peter Do worked at Céline and Derek Lam before launching his own label in 2018. He's known for sleek tailored suits, unexpected cutouts, cool tie detailing, and other minimalist garments.
Raised in both New Zealand and Singapore, Claudia Li is currently based in New York and started her eponymous label in 2015. For her debut runway show in 2018, she featured only Asian models to pay homage to her Chinese heritage.
Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
I'm Cosmopolitan's Associate Fashion Editor and write about any and all trends, major celeb fashion moments, and why wide-leg jeans are basically the best. I originally moved to New York City to audition for RENT, only to find out that the play closed 10 years ago.

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Apollo Theater Renovation: Behind the Scenes at the Historic Harlem Venue
Apollo Theater Renovation: Behind the Scenes at the Historic Harlem Venue

Newsweek

time16 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Apollo Theater Renovation: Behind the Scenes at the Historic Harlem Venue

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Apollo Theater at 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in the night. The Apollo Theater at 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in the night. Osmany Torres Martín/Getty Like any New York City neighborhood, Harlem is in a constant state of change, wrestling with gentrification while seeking to protect its history. In among that flux has been a constant—the Apollo Theater. First opened under a different name as a vaudeville and burlesque venue which excluded African Americans, the Apollo emerged in 1934 as a place for variety revues targeted at Harlem's growing Black population. It became a cultural cornerstone, with artists including Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Sammy Davis, Jr. among the early career stars to take to its stage, which has also been graced by comedians, actors and the man who would go on to be the first Black U.S. president, then-Senator Barack Obama. Now, the Apollo is about to close its doors, but just for a while, as it embarks on the next phase of a multimillion-dollar refurbishment and expansion, which leaders hope will help it last beyond what they say is a challenging time for the arts and Black history. "We have lived through periods of segregation, political unrest, the pandemic. So much of the richness of what has made the Apollo what it is, is steeped in its history and legacy," Joy Profet, chief growth officer at the Apollo, told Newsweek. That legacy will be honored in multiple ways in the coming months and years: in the physical changes and preservations about to take place at the 91-year-old theater, a recently opened performing arts venue in the former Victoria Theater next door and in a new streaming platform with hundreds of pieces of archival footage and photos from decades past. 'It Has Stood for the Best in Black Music' On Wednesday, June 4, the Apollo gave its current form a glittering send-off. Stars including rapper Busta Rhymes, actress Kym Whitley and fashion designer Dapper Dan walked the red carpet beneath the theater's brightly lit sign on Harlem's famous 125th Street for the venue's annual Spring Benefit. Many spoke of the Apollo's place as a vital cultural institution for the Black community, with Rhymes telling reporters that future generations needed to continue to have access to the venue's historic and nurturing environment. "It's not only important in this moment, but it's also necessary that they get that education so they know how to evolve the culture, the way they need to contribute to the history," the rapper said. A legend and a newcomer were among those honored during the evening, symbolizing the venue's ongoing commitment to fostering new talent and acknowledging its past. (L-R) Larry Jackson, Clive Davis and Busta Rhymes attend the 2025 Apollo Theater Spring Benefit at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria on June 04, 2025 in New York City. (L-R) Larry Jackson, Clive Davis and Busta Rhymes attend the 2025 Apollo Theater Spring Benefit at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria on June 04, 2025 in New York City. Shahar Azran/Getty Record producer Clive Davis, now 93, was given the Apollo's Legacy Award, having launched and nurtured the careers of many Black artists, from Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys to Earth, Wind & Fire. "When you think of all the artists—Stevie [Wonder], Ella, Thand the Supremes, Gladys Knight—it has stood for the best in Black music," Davis told Newsweek after being inducted into the theater's Walk of Fame. "So, it has symbolically been the real thing, it is the real thing. So, I look forward to it freshening up and resuming being the real thing." In a new award for 2025, Harlem's own Teyana Taylor, a singer, songwriter and actress, was handed the inaugural Innovator Award. "Many of the quotes say that this is where stars are born and dreams are made," Profet said. "And that's really what has kept this institution so relevant." Apollo Theater's Refurbishment and Future As the party got started at the event, there were signs of work underway, with the Apollo's lobby already walled off for construction, which fully begins in early July. While upgrades have happened piecemeal over the decades, this will be the theater's first top-to-bottom refurbishment. 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While a wall filled with around 1,000 signatures of musicians, comedians and speakers—including former President Obama—will remain as it is, tucked in the wings, big technology upgrades are coming to a space designed in a time when electric lighting was relatively new and amplified sound wasn't imagined. "Right now, it's high volume. That's all they can do is blast sound," Cowan explained. "It doesn't get to all the points in the theater it needs to get to, so this is a way to really make a huge improvement for the patrons in terms of the sound, which is what people go to the Apollo for, right? It's to hear music and see shows." Seating, lighting and stage mechanics will all be upgraded, with the latter especially needed as scene changes are still manually driven with hemp rope—a practice most theaters have swapped for mechanics. For Cowan and the wider team working on the Apollo's next chapter, it is seen as "paramount" that the project enables the theater to survive. "With the loss of so many theaters on 125th Street, if you look at photographs from the 1930s and 40s it was lined with theaters like 42nd Street back in the day and they were all lost. All the grand old theaters were lost to development of various kinds, or just decay, and the Apollo, to me, it's like the last theater standing," he told Newsweek. Renderings of the foyer of The Apollo Theatre Renderings of the foyer of The Apollo Theatre Renderings courtesy of Charcoalblue, Flyleaf Creative, and Beyer Blinder Belle. 'It Extends Beyond Culture' All this work to expand and enhance the Apollo as a landmark arts venue in the heart of a historic Black neighborhood comes at a time when arts funding is in crisis. President Donald Trump recently targeted the Smithsonian Institution, which operates more than 20 museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in a recent executive order entitled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." 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YouTube overtakes streaming rivals as the go-to for TV and movies
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YouTube overtakes streaming rivals as the go-to for TV and movies

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Valérie Bah wins $60K prize for best Canadian debut novel
Valérie Bah wins $60K prize for best Canadian debut novel

Hamilton Spectator

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  • Hamilton Spectator

Valérie Bah wins $60K prize for best Canadian debut novel

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