10 Sustainable AAPI-Owned Brands You Should Know

Happy AAPI Heritage Month, baddies! This month, we want to spotlight AAPI designers setting fashion industry trends while raising sustainability standards. From creators working with upcycled and deadstock materials to those weaving themes from their cultural heritage into their designs, here are 10 AAPI designers you should support year-round.

1.Jelly

Filipina-owned | Made-to-Order | Upcycled Materials

Seen on the likes of artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Jelly’s upcycled pieces center chicness and functionality. Sustainably produced using a made-to-order production model, Jelly aims to be part of people's daily uniform.

2. Dauphinette

Woman-owned | Recycled & Vintage Materials | Made in New York

We love Dauphinette for their charming approach to magical realist fashion. Made in New York and crafted from vintage materials and artisanal components, the brand encompasses founder Olivia Cheng's vision of dreamy, narrative, complex garments inspired by preserved botanicals and repurposed textiles.

3. Allina Liu

Chinese American Woman-owned | Based in NYC | Ethical & Sustainable Production

Founded by designer Allina Liu in 2015, her eponymous label blends elegance with sensuality and comfort with style. Drawing inspiration from shibari, fiber artist Do-ho Suh, photographers Nobuyoshi Araki and Ren Hang, and 17th-century Dutch portraiture, the brand creates pieces that make your everyday life a little more poetic.

4. Leeann Huang

Circular Design | Woman-owned | Small Batch Production | LA-based | OEKO-TEX Certified Materials

The girlies who love colorful, surrealist clothing need to check out Leeann Huang. This textile-driven fashion brand merges traditional craft techniques with innovative materials, dreaming up a fantastical wardrobe created with intention.

5. YanYan Knits

Made from Leftover Yarn | Women-owned

YanYan Knits, founded by Phyllis Chan and Suzzie Chung, applies traditional Chinese techniques to premium knitwear, blended with modern aesthetics intersecting individual style and happiness. Inspired by their grandmothers' wisdom, YanYan's playful and eclectic pieces contrast contemporary and traditional elements.

6. No Less Than

LA-Based | AAPI Family-owned | Made-to-Order | Small Brand Production

No Less Than happens when sisters stop arguing about who stole whose clothes and decide to start making garments together. This sister-led team sources their fabrics locally and produces them in-house to avoid overproduction and waste. No Less Than’s bright and airy pieces are perfect for easy summertime OOTDs or layering in the colder seasons.

7. Clouwdez

Filipino-owned | Upcycled | Made-to-Order | Indie Designer | Based in California

Sometimes, an individuality complex can be good, especially with upcycled clothing. The love child of cyber-punk and Y2K, Clouwdez uses sustainable sourcing practices for deadstock, vintage, and second-hand materials to create pieces that highlight creativity and individuality.

8. Imli Dana

Made in New York & Delhi | Woman-Owned | Upcycled | Indie Designer

Independent textile studio Imli Dana focuses their designs on generational techniques and sustainability, celebrating craftsmanship and durability. Their hand-knit and sewn pieces aim to reduce waste by using pre and post-consumer textile materials.

9. Find Me Now

AAPI Mother-Daughter Owned | Ethical & Sustainable Production

Find Me Now focuses on intentional wearability and sustainability, encouraging people to join the #ReWearThat movement! Their collections are produced in small, self-funded, women-owned factories in China, ensuring fair wages and ethical practices throughout the production process.

10. Annie Lian

NYC-Based | Handmade | One-of-a-Kind Pieces | Indie Designer

Annie Lian infuses her pieces with abstract expressionism and a black-and-white palette. Each one-of-a-kind garment is a labor of love, repurposed and adorned with handcrafted designs, creating wearable art that stands out.