AsiaStore at Asia Society to Showcase Asian American Designers During APA Heritage Month

NEW YORK, April 21, 2016 — AsiaStore will celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month with expanded collections of jewelry, apparel, accessories and home accents by featured Asian American designers, many of whom will be on hand to demonstrate their artistry and discuss the design inspiration that influenced their latest collections.

Designer showcases include:

Handcrafted Gold Jewelry with Coomi
Tuesday, May 3, 12pm – 3:30pm

Recognized for her distinctive design motifs and feminine styling, Indian American designer Coomi is inspired by remote cultures and ancient textiles. Her collections embrace a vibrant aesthetic that features a harmonious blend of rose cut diamonds and precious gemstones, handcrafted in 20 karat gold.

Vietnamese Silk Textiles with Dat Tran
Wednesday, May 4, 11am – 2:30pm

Inspired by the beauty of hand woven and hand dyed silk fabrics on his journeys to the Far East, Vietnamese American designer Dat Tran pursues his vision of producing collections of uniquely designed scarves and accessories that fuse handmade silk fabrics, high fashion and jewelry. The natural, luxurious silk is meticulously cultivated in remote villages of Vietnam and Cambodia by small communities of highly skilled silk farmers and weavers.

‘Who’s Sari Now?' Jewelry with Rosena Sammi
Tuesday, May 3, 12pm – 3:30pm

Sri Lankan American designer Rosena Sammi introduces ‘Who's Sari Now,’ a unique socially conscious accessories collection featuring upcycled saris, made with the help of the women of Apne Aap, an NGO dedicated to educating young girls rescued from the red light districts of India. Sales from the collection directly benefit the education of these girls.

Brave Collection Jewelry with Jessica Hendricks Yee
Friday, May 6, 12:00pm – 3:30pm

Combining her love of jewelry and philanthropic spirit, Jessica Hendricks Yee was inspired to create a collection to celebrate and connect courageous women across the globe. The Brave collection is handmade by talented Cambodian artisans who come from underprivileged backgrounds or suffer from disabilities. Each piece is carved and woven by hand in Cambodia using traditional metalwork techniques with brass, silver and gold vermeil materials. Her goal is to provide job opportunities to talented artisans, exposing them to global customers and collaborating creatively.

Hand Painted Skateboard Decks with Rafael Colon
Friday, May 6, 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Puerto Rican Chinese designer Rafael Colon is a self taught artist born in Puerto Rico and raised inthe Bronx. Inspired by history as told to him by his Chinese grandfather, his travels with the Marines and a long standing interest in the discipline and detailed work of Asian artists, Rafael has created a series of hand etched and painted skateboard decks depicting Japanese Geishas, Peking Opera performers and Samurai warriors that take street art to new levels.

Ottoman-inspired Jewelry with Alex Tukelturk
Saturday, May 7, 12pm – 3:30pm

Turkish Colombian jewelry maker Alexandra Tukelturk is the co-founder of Grand Bazaar, named after one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets. Her jewelry line “Kader” offers the wearer a glimpse of Istanbul. Alex takes inspiration from the beauty and power of the Ottoman Empire, reinterpreting the magnificence of jewels and gemstones with her creative modern touch. Stunning jewels and semi-precious gemstones are set in sterling silver and oxidized brass for a stunning and elegant effect.

Asia Society Members receive a 10% discount on all purchases at AsiaStore, both online and at 725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), New York City, tel. (212) 327-9217. AsiaStore is open daily 11am-6pm, Friday until 9pm. Connect with AsiaStore on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

About AsiaStore
AsiaStore at Asia Society and Museum, is a unique and dynamic retail environment that showcases the modern Asian lifestyle. With a commitment to featuring the renowned brands of Asia and promoting emerging design talent, AsiaStore is at the forefront of presenting the best in Asian design and literature.