Gorgeous AAPI-Owned Home Decor Brands That Should Be In Your Home Now
The home décor space is filled with talent across the board, and now it's time to shine the light on the innovative Asian-American Pacific Islander-owned brands you should have in your abode. The Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce (ACE) shares via CNBC Select that there are approximately 2.2 million businesses in the United States with owners that identify from the AAPI community.
To support the Asian community all year round, Kitchn suggests venturing to supermarkets, restaurants, and shopping AAPI-owned home décor and kitchen brands to positively impact these tight-knit communities directly. Although there are several standouts in the design space, we've narrowed the list down. These five successful companies are the must-have brands to add to your shopping cart and include everything from luxe towels to the cult cookware we're sure you've heard of, so keep scrolling to see the creme de la creme AAPI home décor brands!
Cravings by Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen, the model and entrepreneur, is quite a successful businesswoman in the cooking world. The wife of the singer/songwriter John Legend, with nearly 40 million Instagram followers, is of Thai and Norwegian descent and has put out several popular cookbooks over the years with unique recipes. In an article by Rolling Stone, titled "The Best Celebrity Cookbooks from Celebs Who Can Actually Cook," Chrissy Teigan's cookbook came in at number one, with the outlet recommending her delicious Spicy Miso Pasta as one of the must-try recipes.
Teigen has a top-rated cookware brand as well. A Kitchn editor has highly recommended the Cravings by Chrissy Teigen brand, especially for making some of Teigen's favorite dishes featured in her cookbooks, like chicken or shrimp alfredo. Some standout products the brand sells include Chrissy's Fave Stainless Steel Set, a three-piece set of a saucepan, skillet, and multipurpose pan, or the beautiful Lowkey Lavender Cookware Set.
Our Place by Shiza Shahid
The Always Pan by the brand Our Place has been called Internet famous, multifunctional, and noted for its array of fun colors like spice, sage, lavender, and blue salt by Forbes Vetted. The outlet has indicated its ability to multitask as one of the best things about this $145 pan since it works well as a saucepan, sauté pan, and steamer.
According to Glamour, Islamabad native Shiza Shahid co-founded the company in 2019 after years of cooking in a tiny NYC apartment. She wondered if there was a better alternative to cookware, ultimately creating a pan that does it all instead of the 16-piece cookware sets that were usually on the market. Not only has Shahid made a pan that has taken the cooking world by storm, but she is also the co-founder of the Malala Fund, with the primary mission of funding education for girls in countries around the globe.
The Qi is a tea brand not to miss
Eastern holistic healing is the main focus of The Qi, which means "life energy" or "life force," a wellness brand that features beautiful glass teapots and flower teas. According to Martha Stewart, Beijing-born Lisa Li founded The Qi after being burnt out from working in the fashion industry for a decade. She noted a trip to the Yunnan Province in 2017, known as the birthplace of China's tea industry, was the catalyst and main inspiration for her wellness company. To create their teas, they rely on small farms throughout Asia that grow and handpick their flowers. Some of the brand's most beautiful products include Bloom Glass Teapot, a collaboration with Sophie Lou Jacobsen, a popular homeware designer. The gorgeous pot comes with the Floral Tasting Collection, which includes packets of Royal Chrysanthemum, Shangri-la Rose, and Blue Lotus flower teas.
This brand also finds ways to give back to the Asian community by donating a percentage of its sales to organizations such as the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV) and Heart of Dinner (via The Qi).
Luxurious towels created by Onsen's Shane Monson
Onsen's savvy owner Shane Monson was inspired by his Japanese heritage and upbringing to create a waffle weave towel that dries faster and is softer than options previously seen on the market. The designer's idea paid off, with the company raising over $1 million during crowdfunding on sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, where it saw support from over 8,400 people, according to Inc.com.
Monson's inspiring line is known for its top-rated lightweight towels, plush Bath Robe, and Wool Dryer Balls made from 100% New Zealand wool (via Onsen). It's no secret that the towels steal the show for the brand. According to Home Textiles Today, they are Oeko-Tex certified and made of 100% Supima cotton. The towels come in a slew of popular neutral colors, including forest, denim, brown, and black, which can be purchased individually or in a four-piece Bath Towel Set.
Elegant outdoor furniture by Jean Liu for Stori Modern
If you want to spruce up your outdoor patio, look into this sophisticated outdoor furniture collection for Stori Modern. Chinese designer Jean Liu created her interior design firm Jean Liu Design in 2007 after helping a friend redesign her space after a divorce. Per Artemest, Liu's stunning work has been featured in many influential publications, including House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, and the Wall Street Journal, to name a few.
Soon after launching her interior design company, she founded Stori Modern, focusing on direct-to-consumer modern outdoor furniture pieces, according to The Lifestyle Edit. The brand produces high-quality furniture collections with a flair made of durable materials like iron, aluminum, and woven frames, so the products stand the test of time. Also available on Stori Modern is a variety of lighting options and outdoor ceiling fans for your entertaining area.