into anti-AAPI rhetoric and policies from politicians ahead of the 2020 Election, specifically calling out former President Donald Trump as "the greatest spreader among politicians of anti-Asian American rhetoric related to the pandemic."
The fashion industry, in particular, has a responsibility to speak out on this issue and issues facing marginalized communities more broadly not only because of its massive platform and reach, but also because these groups represent their collaborators and customers. Lim founded his brand in 2005 and has been in the industry for over two decades. He's seen the discourse around fashion evolve in that time, from the early days of people insisting, "It's just clothes; it's superficial."
"If you genuinely care about every other [person], you can't pick and choose being an anti-racist, pick and choose specific causes," Gurung says. "In fashion, to be completely honest, it's the smaller brands and designers who will speak up. The established brands have a long way before they can consolidate and say something.
Donald Trump is largely to blame by constantly referring to Covid-19 as the “China virus”