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Fashion – Style – Trends
Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander month, we’re highlighting some of our amazing AAPI Buffalos. Learn about how they express their style and how their heritage has shaped them into who they are today!
Meet Jaylan | BE Minneapolis Associate Manager
How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
American Samoa and Hawai’i are the places that shaped me to become the woman I am today. There is a heavy, almost awesome strength of community within Samoa, including a lovely population of trans-identifying islanders that I connect with often. Hawai’i taught me compassion & to never turn a blind eye to those in need. Give what you can and help wherever is best.
What are some interesting hobbies that most people don’t know about you?
It’s not as surprising once you get to know me, but I love Dungeons & Dragons!
How would you define your style?
Most recently, I’ve been really liking bold colors! I’m also an unapologetic Beyoncé fan, so my personal style stems from her and her Adidas Collab: IVY PARK. I tend to stick with a set of colors depending on what outfit I’m thinking of at the time.
Meet Bill | BE Las Vegas Buyer
How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Being a Pacific Islander (Chamorro) has not only shown me to treat everyone with kindness, but to treat everyone as family. It’s shown me to constantly give back and continue to do so without asking for anything in return! Just be a light and be positive in all aspects because you never know how much impact you can make in another person’s life!
How would you define your style?
Very reminiscent of Japanese Harajuku fashion and Japanese Americana! I love patchwork and vibrant patterns and fabrics! I coined a term with my fashion sense called “sporadic patchwork” and honestly have been running with that for a while now!
What are some interesting hobbies that most people don’t know about you?
I’m a self-taught fashion designer and I have been designing clothes for almost 4 years! I started designing clothes so I could look fly and have clothes that fit me. I shifted my focus to a more communal approach. I wanted to not only have people wear my clothes, but I wanted my clothes to be one-of-a-kind and good for the earth. So for the last four years, I have been upcycling clothes to reduce landfill waste. Dreams can’t live without passion and passion can’t live without dreams! It’s the root of all things good for the future that lies ahead of us!
Meet Carlyn | BE Hawthorne Buyer
How would you define your style?
I definitely lean into the y2k style with a more alternative edge, but I like to constantly switch it up and try out new looks. To me, my style is like hitting the randomization button when creating a “Sims” character and seeing what you get each day. One day, I’ll be super Y2K Paris Hilton, the next day I might be wearing a more masculine streetwear look and the day after that a very witchy alternative look. I like to keep people on their toes!
What do you love most about working at Buffalo?
I love getting to see all the different styles of not only my coworkers and managers, but customers as well. This is my first job where I have more creative freedom to dress in ways that represent me, so it always feels like I’m redesigning my own avatar each day and I love finding more inspiration for my own looks. I also love getting to hear peoples’ stories on their closet cleanouts or behind special pieces that they bring in.
Does your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?
We celebrate the New Year by eating traditional foods called osechi ryori. The foods we eat are sushi and a soup called ozoni. With the sushi, we eat abalone, which is eaten to bring prosperity in the new year. Ozoni has mochi in it that is extremely stretchy and is eaten to represent longevity in life. These are some of my favorite foods, so I always look forward to it.
Meet Regina | BE Wicker Park Store Manager
How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Well, my mother was born and raised in the Philippines and it was her love of fashion that got me interested in clothing in the first place. She was a huge Coach bag collector since before I was born and taught me how to style myself. I think style and being trendy is a part of a lot of Filipino culture, as we always want to be in the know. My mother also taught me how to speak in Tagalog as a child, and exclusively spoke to me in Tagalog all the time. She also had me participate in the Filipino Pride Parade in Washington DC when I was a kid.
What do you love most about working at Buffalo?
I love that the knowledge I have gained from decades of shopping has finally proved useful! I love that I can talk about a drop or a trend and I’m surrounded by other fashion lovers who are excited to talk about it or share their knowledge as well. When I started working at Buffalo Exchange, I really felt that I had found my people and we could all speak in the same fashion-based language. It was so exciting for me!
What are some interesting hobbies or talents that most people don’t know about you?
I upcycle clothing and I crochet. I’m also on an all-women’s bowling team!
Inspired by these Buffalos’ stories? Get a job you love (not to mention amazing coworkers) by applying to Buffalo! Learn more and find positions near you.
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