May marks a month of many celebrations, the start of summer break, the blossoming of flowers, but May is also the start to a month-long celebration of the Asian American Pacific Islander communities – commonly known as APPI.

The month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a month when we celebrate the important contributions the AAPI community has had in American history, society, culture and, of course, fashion and beauty.

Whether you prefer minimalist or maximalist, the fashion industry wouldn’t be the same without the influences of AAPI-owned brands and businesses. Many of these brands are considered to be the trendsetters of their industries and without their influences we may have never learned how to achieve a glowing skincare routine or even think of having multiple steps to our daily skincare routine.

With the rise of K-pop, anime and manga, the APPI fashion influences are only beginning to take over mainstream fashion trends. The rise of these genres has found an audience with the most prominent luxury fashion brands of all time, including Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Balmain and Moschino, and quickly creating high-fashion looks inspired by Asian heritage.

As we celebrate the APPI community, let’s not forget their importance in our history and their contributions to our modern society & fashion industry.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played vital roles in shaping the United States to what it is today, from building the Transcontinental Railroad to advocating for equal rights and labor laws to fighting in multiple wars but the history and the contributions of the APPI communities is often overlooked.

The APPI community made these societal contributions while also facing persistent discrimination and violence throughout American history and is still facing many of the same issues today.

Although the effects from the equal rights movements during the pandemic may have dwindled, the APPI community continues to feel the impact of Covid-fueled xenophobia and anti-Asian racism.

It’s important to remember to support Asian and Pacific Islander-owned brands not just this month, but year-round. Whether you’re looking for your next statement fashion piece or a new skincare solution, these are the AAPI-owned brands you’ll want to have in your closest and beauty counters long after AAPI Heritage Month.