Dual Identified Designing Woman
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Hola and neih hou, Hip Hapa Homeez! Once again, Your Hip Hapa is moved by your overwhelming support. Thank you for joining our Watermelon Sushi movement by “liking” our Watermelon Sushi Fan page on Facebook, following our sporadic tweets on Twitter, joining our Hip Hapa Homeez Group page on Facebook (where you can post news about multiethnic folks and transracial adoptees), and by supporting our Watermelon Sushi film by purchasing Hapa*teez t-shirts on Cafe Press. Without you, we don’t exist so please continue to journey on this fantastic voyage with us.
This week’s Hip Hapa Homee is clothing designer Chrissy Wai-Ching. Since one picture is worth 1,000 words, we’ve kept this interview short so you can check out Chrissy’s beautiful clothing line in the photos below. That’s her in the first three pictures wearing creations she designed, followed by shots of models dressed in her clothes.
Q: What's a nice multiethnic girl like you doing designing clothing?
A: I’ve been sewing since I was a little girl, since my Puerto Rican grandmother was an avid quilter. I started making clothing for myself in high school; then, went to University in Hong Kong and North Carolina, where I studied Textile Technology and Fashion Design. I started my line in Seattle in 2004.
Q: Who are your parents, and how did you grow up?
A: My father was Hong Kong Chinese, and my mother is Puerto Rican. I feel really lucky to have grown up with the two cultures. We took many trips to both places and celebrated both Puerto Rican and Chinese traditions and holidays.
Q: You've lived in many countries and still travel a lot. How do people in each locale deal with mixed-race people?
A: Puerto Rico is the most comfortable for me because everyone there is mixed-race. Hong Kong is an interesting place because, in some circles, I'm accepted as Chinese, and in others people don't believe that I am even mixed with Chinese!
I've noticed that the way I'm seen has changed a lot over the years. People are much more used to seeing mixed-race people all over the world now, whereas before it was more rare.
Q: What about you is uniquely Chinese or Puerto Rican?
A: I enjoy practicing Chinese art, like seal carving and calligraphy. Chinese tea and dim sum is my favorite! I speak some Chinese and also some Spanish. I often listen to Puerto Rican music, and feel the Puerto Rican lust for life in me.
Q: Besides being a fashion designer, you also create paintings and carvings. Tell us more about your other art interests.
A: I love to unwind with traditional Chinese art. It’s more about following a tradition and repetition than Western art, so I think there is a very meditative element to it.
Q: Please explain the Cantonese name Wai-Ching.
A: Wai-Ching is my Chinese name and it means Wisdom and Virtue.
Q: How can our readers buy your artwork and clothing?
A: My artwork and clothing can be purchased through my Seattle studio. I work with customers from all over the world. My website is www.wai-ching.com and the phone number is (206) 229-1111.
Mucho gracias and mhgoi saai, Chrissy!
Remember, Hip Hapa Homeez, you can get your own Hapa*Teez t-shirt like the one beautiful Cassie is wearing in this photo, below.
And, don’t forget that many of our Hip Hapa Homeez have products for sale. This week, we're featuring Thomas Brooks’ book, A Wealth of Family. You can read about him here.
See you in a two weeks with another blendie, hafu, hapa, mixie, multiethnic, FGM or MGM, cross-cultural person or transracial adoptee!
Your Hip Hapa,
Yayoi