On Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 2 to 5 p.m., the Houston Public Library-Julia Ideson Building (JIB) will open its doors to the public for the Ascend AAPI Spring Fashion Show. Intended to amplify the voices of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, the event is free, but online registration is required.
As well as enjoying the fashion show, attendees will be able to view Our Vibrant AAPI Community: Selections from the Houston Asian American Archive on loan from the Houston Asian American Archive at the Rice University Chao Center of Asian Studies. The exhibit will be on display at JIB until June 3, 2023.
Sending models down the beautiful runway will be Chloe Dao, Kimono Zulu, and Anthony Pabillano. Winner of season two of Project Runway, Vietnamese American Chloe Dao designs garments that flatter every body type. Her mission is to make all women feel beautiful. Kimono Zulu, headed by Filipina American Tina Zulu, takes inspiration from traditional Japanese attire, mainly the kimono. Through collaboration, artists incorporate their personal design sensibilities into the brand’s vision, bringing renewed life to vintage kimonos. For this show, the kimonos will be paired with pieces by Evergirl Vintage to create unique looks. Houston-based Filipino artist Anthony Pabillano also designs accessories. Currently, Pabillano is exploring the weaving style of the Philippine bayong, a traditional bag constructed from dried leaves. Bringing his personal mark to the process, Pabillano creates his bayongs with non-traditional materials and forms.
A unique way to celebrate spring and the AAPI community, the Ascend AAPI Spring Fashion Show is a must for followers of fashion and supporters of culture.
About Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library (HPL) is a dynamic organization that serves one of the largest areas – both in population and area – in the country. HPL is committed to equitable access to information and programs in an increasingly digital age.
About Houston Asian American Archive
Rice University’s Houston Asian American Archive (HAAA) began in 2010, and it continues to grow as a repository of materials documenting the lives and contributions of immigrants and their descendants from all corners of Asia: from East, to Southeast, to South Asia.
About Chao Center of Asian Studies
The Chao Center of Asian Studies is the premier research hub for faculty, students, and post-doctoral scholars working in Asian studies at Rice University. Its mission includes outreach to Asian and Asian American populations in Houston and beyond, promoting scholarly community building and broader understanding.