A new style for Chinese New Year

“This is weird. I mean, it’s just that in Ohio, no one I knew celebrated Chinese New Year. It was a thing I heard in passing.” remarked Kyle Robertson CC’13, as he walked into John Jay Dining Hall for lunch on John Jay Chinese New Year Day. The entire dining area was decorated with hong bao (red envelopes) and red lanterns, while students chomped on stir-fried vegetables and Cantonese music of the 1960s played in the background. Chopsticks were optional but abundant. Just as Columbia seeks to celebrate the diversity of its students, the fashion industry is finally embracing the talent to its designers of Asian origin. Designers such as Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Jen Kao, Jason Wu, and Prabal Gurung are known for their artistry and skill — not for being Asian. The separation of their identity as Asian Americans from fashion designers is a stark contrast to the perception of designers of an older generation, such as Vivienne Tam. The new generation of designers aren’t trying to display the influence of their Asian culture on their collections through modified qipaos (a traditional Chinese dress); instead, they are proclaiming to the world that they are not defined by the constraints of Oriental stereotypes. In the midst of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, Asian American designers present some of the most highly-anticipated shows of the season. With Chinese New Year right in the middle of it, one cannot help but wonder what some of our favorite designers are doing to celebrate.