Ashlyn So: Combating AAPI/Asian- Hate Through Peaceful Protest & Fashion
In this episode of All About Change, teenage activist and fashion designer Ashlyn So discusses how she combines her creative work with social advocacy. Starting with sewing at age six, So developed her fashion design skills while incorporating elements of her Chinese-American heritage. She explains how she organizes peaceful protests against anti-Asian hate crimes and uses her fashion collections to address social issues.
The conversation explores So's experience as a young activist, including how she manages online harassment and maintains her mental health while pursuing her mission. So shares her approach to fashion design as a medium for social change, her methods for organizing community events, and her plans to build a fashion brand that merges commercial success with activism, particularly in addressing mental health awareness.
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1-Page Summary
Ashlyn So's Journey as Designer and Activist
Ashlyn So has emerged as a powerful voice at the intersection of fashion design and social activism. Starting with sewing classes at age six, she developed her passion for fashion through creating unique pieces. Her designs draw inspiration from her Chinese-American heritage, incorporating elements like traditional porcelain patterns and ship sails, while using her platform to promote diversity and social justice.
Ashlyn's Activism Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
Moved by rising violence against elderly Asians in her community, Ashlyn organized a peaceful rally in just one week. She carefully selected a family-friendly location and managed all aspects of the event, from securing permits to arranging media coverage. Her activism led to increased community mobilization and contributed to the incorporation of Asian American studies into school curricula.
Integrating Activism Into Fashion Design
Ashlyn So views her fashion collections as more than just clothing; they serve as catalysts for important social conversations. She intentionally designs pieces that address issues like bullying and anti-Asian hate crimes, making each garment a statement of purpose and progress. Through her work, she demonstrates how fashion can be a powerful tool for expressing identity and amplifying activist messages.
Challenges of Young Activists, Including Mental Health
As a teenage activist, Ashlyn faces significant online harassment. Her mother helps shield her from online hate, while Ashlyn has developed coping strategies, including surrounding herself with supportive friends and family. Despite these challenges, she remains committed to using her platform for positive community change.
Ashlyn's Fashion Activism Plans
Looking ahead, Ashlyn plans to pursue college while growing her fashion business. Her recent work focuses on mental health issues, reflecting her belief in art and fashion as vehicles for cultural change. She aims to build a fashion brand that successfully merges commercial success with activist values, particularly in addressing mental health awareness.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- The intersection of fashion design and social activism involves using clothing as a medium to advocate for social change and raise awareness about important issues. Designers in this space create garments that not only reflect their artistic vision but also convey messages related to diversity, equality, and justice. By integrating activism into fashion, designers like Ashlyn So aim to spark conversations, challenge norms, and inspire action through their creative work. This approach leverages the influence of fashion to address societal issues and promote positive change.
- Ashlyn So incorporates traditional porcelain patterns and ship sails in her designs to showcase her Chinese-American heritage. The porcelain patterns symbolize cultural roots and craftsmanship, while the ship sails represent exploration and journey. These elements add depth and storytelling to her fashion pieces, reflecting a blend of tradition and innovation in her work.
- Community mobilization involves bringing together community members to work towards a common goal or address a specific issue. In this context, it means rallying support and engagement from the local community to take action against anti-Asian hate crimes. Incorporation of Asian American studies into school curricula means integrating the history, culture, and contributions of Asian Americans into educational programs to provide a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of American society.
- Fashion collections as catalysts for social conversations means that the designer intentionally creates clothing pieces that spark discussions and raise awareness about important social issues. These collections are designed not just for aesthetic purposes but to convey messages and provoke thought on topics like diversity, social justice, and activism. By using fashion as a medium for expressing these ideas, designers like Ashlyn So aim to engage their audience in meaningful dialogues and promote positive change in society. This approach highlights the power of fashion as a form of art and communication that goes beyond mere style and trends.
- Online harassment faced by teenage activists can include a range of negative behaviors such as cyberbullying, hate speech, threats, and misinformation spread through social media platforms. This harassment can have a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of young activists, leading to stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. Teenage activists often develop coping strategies to deal with online harassment, such as seeking support from friends and family, limiting social media exposure, and engaging in self-care practices. Despite these challenges, many young activists remain resilient and committed to their causes, using their platforms to advocate for positive change in their communities.
- Coping strategies for dealing with online hate typically involve surrounding oneself with supportive individuals, limiting exposure to negative content, engaging in self-care activities, and seeking professional help if needed. These strategies aim to protect one's mental well-being and maintain a positive online presence despite facing online harassment.
- Merging commercial success with activist values in a fashion brand involves creating clothing lines that not only sell well but also advocate for social causes. This approach aims to use the brand's influence and profits to support and raise awareness for important issues. By integrating activism into the brand's identity and messaging, the fashion label can engage consumers in meaningful conversations while maintaining profitability. The goal is to demonstrate that fashion can be a force for positive change while remaining financially viable.
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Ashlyn So's Journey as Designer and Activist
Ashlyn So has emerged as a notable figure where the worlds of fashion design and social activism intersect, navigating her journey with a distinct passion for both style and substance.
Ashlyn Found Her Fashion Passion Through Sewing Classes and Design Creation
Ashlyn's enthrallment with fashion traces back to her formative years in a Montessori school where she first engaged with sewing projects. Starting at only six years old, she crafted ornaments and stuffed animals. This initial spark led her to pursue sewing classes, through which she developed an avid passion for fashion and the art of creating unique pieces. At home, she practiced her craft diligently and found joy in the act of making her ideas tangible – designing new pieces that brought her unique creative vision to life.
Ashlyn's Designs Blend Cultural Heritage and Activism
Ashlyn So's work in the fashion industry is not only about aesthetics but also serves as an avenue to express and integrate her rich cultural heritage and her commitment to activism.
Ashlyn Draws Inspiration From Her Chinese-American Roots, Featuring Porcelain Bowls and Ship Sails in Her Couture Collections
Drawing inspiration from her Chinese-American roots, Ashlyn enriches her couture collections with personal and cultural significance. She fondly recalls the classic blue and white porcelain bowls from her grandmother's home, which have influenced the color scheme of an entire collection. Additionally, she designed a top reminiscent of traditional Chinese ship sails, artfully weaving elements of her heritage into her fashion statements.
Ashlyn Uses Fashion to Convey Diversity, Identity, and Social Justice
Beyond her cultural inspiration, Ashlyn ...
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Ashlyn So's Journey as Designer and Activist
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Actionables
- You can explore your heritage through a creative hobby by researching traditional arts and crafts from your background and incorporating those elements into your projects. For instance, if you have Irish ancestry, you might learn about Celtic knotwork and try to include those designs in your knitting or woodworking.
- Start a personal project that combines your interests with a social cause you care about by identifying a topic you're passionate about and finding a creative way to express it. If you're into photography and concerned about environmental issues, you could create a photo series highlighting the beauty of local nature spots and the threats they face.
- Reflect on the concept of fluidity in i ...
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Ashlyn's Activism Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
Ashlyn’s advocacy work exemplifies the profound impact of community mobilization against the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes.
Ashlyn Was Impacted by Rising Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Against Elderly Asians
Ashlyn Organized a Rally to Support Her Community and Raise Awareness
Compelled to act after witnessing violence against elderly Asians in her community, Ashlyn So quickly organized her first rally to address the issue. She was deeply shocked and hurt by an incident of anti-Asian violence against Amy Rotana-Pocktee's father, which contradicted the cultural value of respecting elders. Feeling the collective shock within the Asian American community, where even traditionally silent individuals were stirred into action, Ashlyn felt an urgent need to respond. She organized the rally in just one week, setting clear intentions to stand for Asians and to raise awareness.
Ashlyn Ensured the Rally Was a Peaceful Community Event Focused On Love and Unity, Not Hate or Violence
Ashlyn aimed to make the rally a peaceful, community-based, family-oriented event focusing on love and unity. She chose a community park known as a family area for the rally, securing a big street alongside the park to effectively communicate the message to passersby. To plan the peaceful rally, Ashlyn dealt with logistics such as permits, location, inviting speakers, and ensuring media coverage. She reached out on platforms like Nextdoor and attracted families and news media, creating a cohesive community event.
Ashlyn's Activism Led To Community Mobilization, Awareness, and Asian American Studies Curriculum Changes
After Ashlyn's Rally, She Noticed More Peaceful Community Protests
After Ashlyn’s rally, she noticed an uptick in peaceful protests and rallies, marking a shift in the community's approach to ...
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Ashlyn's Activism Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
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Clarifications
- In many Asian cultures, including Asian American communities, respecting elders is a fundamental value rooted in Confucian teachings. This value emphasizes showing deference, care, and reverence towards older individuals due to their wisdom, experience, and contributions to the family and society. Respecting elders is seen as a way to maintain harmony, preserve tradition, and uphold familial and societal cohesion. It often involves practices like listening to their advice, supporting them in their old age, and honoring their role as the family's patriarch or matriarch.
- Nextdoor is a neighborhood-based social networking platform that allows users to connect with people in their local communities. It is used for various purposes such as sharing local news, recommendations, events, and discussions related to the neighborhood. Users can join specific neighborhood groups on Nextdoor to engage with nearby residents and stay informed about local happenings. Ashlyn utilized Nextdoor to reach out to residents in her community and spread the word about the rally she organized.
- Organizing a rally involves obtaining permits from local authorities to hold the event legally, selecting a suitable location that aligns with the rally's purpose and can accommodate attendees, inviting speakers who can address the cause effectively, and ensuring media coverage to amplify the rally's message to a broader audience.
- Incorporating Asian American studies into school curricula is significant because it provides a more comprehensive and inclusive education, offering students a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences and contributions of Asian Americans throughout history. This inclusion helps combat stereotypes, promotes cultural awareness, and fosters empathy and respect among students from all backgrounds. It also addresses historical gaps and biases in traditional curricula, empowering Asian American studen ...
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Integrating Activism Into Fashion Design
Fashion designer Ashlyn So is redefining the intersection of fashion and activism, using her collections to champion social change and facilitate important conversations.
Ashlyn Weaves Activist Messages Into Fashion Collections
Ashlyn So is determined to make a mark beyond the aesthetics of fashion. She sees her collections as platforms to initiate dialogue on critical issues.
Ashlyn's Collections "Start Conversations" On Social Issues
She crafts her fashion pieces with the intent of sparking dialogues. Ashlyn strives for her fashion to be more than just garments; she wants them to be conversation starters that open discussions on a range of social issues. By integrating messages that resonate with her audiences, her clothing moves beyond the realm of fashion and becomes a catalyst for discourse and reflection on various social topics.
Ashlyn takes an unflinching stand against issues such as bullying and anti-Asian hate crimes. By merging her creative endeavors in fashion design with activism, she leverages her visibility to spotlight and address these pressing problems.
Ashlyn Uses Fashion to Express Identity and Amplify Her Activist Voice
Fashion becomes a powerful tool of ident ...
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Integrating Activism Into Fashion Design
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Counterarguments
- Fashion's primary function is aesthetic and utilitarian, and while it can convey messages, it may not always be an effective medium for activism or initiating serious dialogue on complex social issues.
- The integration of activism into fashion could be seen as commodifying social justice issues, potentially trivializing the causes it aims to support.
- Activist fashion may only reach a limited audience, often those who are already engaged with the issues or who can afford designer clothing, which could limit its impact on broader social change.
- There is a risk that the messages embedded in fashion collections could be misinterpreted or overlooked if the symbolism is too subtle or abstract.
- Fashion activism might be criticized for being performative if not accompanied by concrete actions or contributions to the causes it represents.
- The focus on individual identity and self-expression through fashion could overshadow the collective action often necessary for social change.
- Some may argue that fashion as a tool for activism can be exc ...
Actionables
- You can personalize your wardrobe with patches or pins that symbolize causes you care about, turning everyday attire into a statement of support for those issues. For example, if you're passionate about environmental conservation, you might add a patch of the Earth or a pin that says "Protect Our Planet" to your backpack or jacket.
- Start a conversation with friends or colleagues by wearing a piece of clothing or accessory that has a provocative or thought-provoking message related to a social issue. This could be a T-shirt with a bold statement about equality or a hat with an emblem for peace, prompting others to ask about it and engage in dialogue.
- Create a social media challenge where you and others post photo ...
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Challenges of Young Activists, Including Mental Health
Young activists like Ashlyn are encountering difficulties maintaining their mental well-being while navigating the intricate world of social activism, especially when it involves robust online participation.
Ashlyn Endures Online Harassment for Her Activism, Tough to Handle As a Teen
Ashlyn, a teenager engaged in online activism, faces harassment and pressure due to her outspoken nature on social media. These challenges are substantial and growing as she continues to express her views and fight for causes she believes in.
Ashlyn's Mother Shields Her From Online Hate; Ashlyn Develops Strategies to Cope With Public Figure Mental Health Pressures
Her mother has been a protective figure, shielding her from online hatred, especially during her younger years. As Ashlyn matured, it has become more difficult to keep her insulated from the negativity. With growing independence, Ashlyn herself finds it challenging to manage her mental health amidst constant public scrutiny. To cope with the mental health pressure of being a public figure, she has found it crucial to surround herself with a supportive and uplifting circle of friends and family, embracing practices of self-worth and self-affirmation.
A ...
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Challenges of Young Activists, Including Mental Health
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Counterarguments
- While Ashlyn's commitment is admirable, it's important to consider whether young activists are equipped with the necessary tools and resilience to handle the pressures of activism without compromising their mental health.
- The role of Ashlyn's mother in shielding her from online hate raises questions about the balance between protection and overprotection, and whether it might hinder Ashlyn's ability to develop her own coping mechanisms.
- The support system of friends and family is crucial, but it's also essential to have professional mental health support for young activists facing severe online harassment.
- There is a risk that the narrative of enduring harassment for a cause might inadvertently glamorize suffering for activism, potentially leading to the normalization of harassment as an expected part of activism.
- The effectiveness of Ashl ...
Actionables
- Create a digital support network by joining or forming online groups with like-minded activists to share experiences and coping strategies. By connecting with others who face similar challenges, you can exchange emotional support and practical advice on how to handle online harassment and pressure. For example, you might join a Facebook group for young activists where members can post about their experiences and receive encouragement and tips from peers.
- Develop a personal wellness plan that includes activities unrelated to activism to maintain mental well-being. This plan could involve setting aside time each week for hobbies, exercise, or relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga. By ensuring you have a balance between activism and personal time, you can better manage the stress that comes with being outspoken on social issues.
- Volunteer for or s ...
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Ashlyn's Fashion Activism Plans
Ashlyn So is forging a unique path that combines her passion for fashion with her commitment to activism, particularly in the area of mental health. Her goal is to create a fashion brand that not only succeeds commercially but also serves as a platform for her activist messages and values.
Ashlyn Aims to Build a Successful Fashion Brand That Embodies Her Activist Messages and Values
Ashlyn So plans on pursuing a college education while simultaneously building her fashion business. Her intentions are to seamlessly integrate her advocacy into her brand, challenging industry norms and inspiring change.
Ashlyn to Pursue College While Growing Her Fashion Business
Ashlyn’s determination to balance education and entrepreneurship speaks to her dedication not only to her own growth but also to the broader mission of influencing societal attitudes through her work.
Ashlyn Aims to Address Mental Health Issues Using Her Platform
Her recent fashion collection delved into themes surrounding mental health, emphasizing the relevance of these issues to her and her generation. Ashlyn sees ...
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Ashlyn's Fashion Activism Plans
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Ashlyn plans to integrate her advocacy into her fashion brand by infusing her designs with messaging related to mental health awareness and social justice. She aims to use her brand as a platform to spark conversations and promote understanding around these important issues. Ashlyn's approach involves incorporating her activist values into the ethos of her brand, challenging industry norms and inspiring change through her work. By aligning her fashion creations with her advocacy goals, she seeks to leverage her brand's reach to raise awareness and destigmatize mental health issues.
- Ashlyn believes that art and fashion can serve as influential tools for driving cultural change by sparking conversations and challenging societal ...
Counterarguments
- The integration of activism into a fashion brand can be seen as a marketing strategy rather than genuine activism, potentially diluting the sincerity of the message.
- Pursuing both a college education and building a business simultaneously could lead to a compromise in the quality or focus on either endeavor.
- The fashion industry is notoriously difficult to break into, and success is not guaranteed, even with a strong message and unique branding.
- There is a risk that the activist messages could alienate some potential customers who may not share the same values or may feel that fashion should be apolitical.
- Addressing mental health issues through fashion may not reach those who are most in need of mental health support, as they may not have access to or interest in fashion.
- While art and fashion can be powerful tools for cultural change, they are not the only or necessarily the most effective means to address and enact social justice and activism.
- The effectiveness of fashion as a platform for activism can be limited if it does not translate into concrete actions beyond raising awarenes ...
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