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As a first generation Taiwanese immigrant, Kathy Yen says she feels a “profound significance” being an Asian American business owner.
“It’s a testament to the perseverance required to overcome the language and cultural barriers that I’ve faced along my journey,” Yen, who runs sustainable personal care products brand Oliver Flynn with her sister, says. “Each day, we work tirelessly to bridge these gaps, striving to communicate effectively and navigate cultural nuances in the business world.”
That’s just one of the challenges that the AAPI community faces these days, along with a rise in anti-Asian hate in recent years, as well as a long history in America of discrimination and exclusion.
“For decades, Asian Americans have been seen as service industry providers, as our parents and grandparents came to this country to open up restaurants, dry cleaners, and nail salons,” says Jin Chen, founder of the multi-purpose Planeket. She says because of the “lower class” perception of those businesses, “some people feel it’s okay to be rude to Asian Americans, especially the older ones. But what I see is that they are also entrepreneurs.”
It’s that can-do spirit despite the inequity that makes Steph Hon, founder of Cadence, which makes reusable toiletry containers, think of her own grandmother—who quit school in second grade to work in a factory sewing sequins in Hainan before immigrating to the US. “I feel very proud to be part of this community because it’s so resilient,” she says.
Banding together has been especially crucial to Asian Americans, as Yen says there’s active participation in community events, forums, and discussions that promote diversity, inclusion, and representation. “Whether it’s sponsoring cultural festivals, hosting educational workshops, or participating in advocacy campaigns, we are dedicated to creating spaces where the voices and experiences of AAPI individuals are valued and celebrated,” she says.
Below, 14 AAPI-owned brands to support while refreshing your travel gear.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Shop AAPI-owned brands by category:
Luggage and bags
Calpak
Back in 1989, Edward and Judy Kwon started making handbags and wallets in LA, eventually evolving into more travel products, like duffels and luggage. By 2013, their kids Jennifer and Roy joined the family business, and now it’s grown into a favorite among travelers.
The Hue carry-on is a common fixture in airports, while the Terra 26-liter laptop duffel backpack is a sleek but durable choice. Calpak’s accessories are among the most useful I've tried, especially the water-resistant zippered pouch set and Terra hanging toiletry bag.
Lo & Sons
Helen Lo had always been a frequent traveler, but with back problems, finding the right bag to carry was an ongoing issue. Her sons Jan and Derek prodded her to make her own—and doubled down on that idea by quitting their jobs in advertising and product research to help their mother, who was 65 at the time, realize her vision with the aptly named Lo & Sons.
With comfort at the forefront of all their products, the line includes The Waverley 2, which converts between a crossbody bag, belt bag, shoulder bag, and wristlet; The OG 2, an overnight bag, which loops right onto a suitcase; and The Catalina Deluxe Weekender, with a bottom pocket to keep shoes and dirty laundry separate from the rest of your essentials.
Just last month, the brand introduced the ultra-light and buttery-soft Aoyama bag. With two strap options and a flexible shape, it’s the perfect day bag for urban adventures. Community responsibility has always been in the brand’s DNA—75 percent of its products are now made of sustainable materials, and nearly 4,000 bags have been donated to healthcare workers.
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Brevitē
When Brandon Kim invested in a sewing machine and started designing a backpack prototype, he had no idea that it would become the start of a family business. He soon recruited his younger twin brothers—Dylan to handle marketing and Elliot to be in charge of finance—and the Kim brothers’ Brevitē was born. Shutterbugs will love the popular Jumper photo camera backpack and all travelers will enjoy the thoughtful features of the namesake Brevitē backpack with its passport pocket, luggage pass-through strap, and hidden compartments for valuables. Day trippers can depend on the ease of the crossbody, with four convenient pockets and an anti-theft design.
Away
As co-founder of the luggage and travel brand Away (an obsession of mine—and many other Traveler editors), Filipino American Jen Rubio has been leading by example, making a major contribution to Stop Asian Hate, a community fund to fight the surge in anti-Asian violence. Away has also committed to making travel more equitable, through partnerships with Global Glimpse, International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, and Together We Rise.
Best known for its savvy, lightweight rolling suitcases like The Carry-On Flex and The Bigger Carry-On, the brand has also ventured into city-friendly bags, like my personal daily bag, The Everywhere Zip Backpack, and travel accessories, including packing cubes and tech cases.
Dagne Dover
As one of the three female co-founders of Dagne Dover, Korean American Melissa Shin Mash serves as the CEO of the bag line where practicality is top of mind. Take for instance its Landon Carryall bag, which is available in five sizes and multiple eye-catching colors and comes with a detachable key leash, exterior ID and phone pouch, and removable shoe bag. Other travel favorites include the Dakota Neoprene backpack and the Hunter toiletry bag.
Senreve
Senvere’s Asian American co-founders Coral Chung and Wendy Wen originally started their luxury handbag brand in 2016 to fill a gap in the market for trendy laptop bags for women. Now an Instagram and celebrity favorite (Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lady Gaga, and Angelina Jolie are all fans), the line’s convertibility makes it extra travel-friendly. Standout products include the Maestra bag, which can be worn as a satchel, tote, backpack, or crossbody, and the vegan Aria belt bag which functions as a belt bag, sling, shoulder bag, crossbody, or clutch.
Travel accessories
Cadence
Bringing your personal care routine with you has never been easier thanks to Cadence’s chic magnetic capsules designed by Steph Hon. Made of recycled ocean-bound plastics and customizable with icons or words, they’re the best way to keep your routine organized at home—and then pick it up and take it on the go (they're both TSA-compliant and leakproof, so you can put liquids in without worry).
Choose from the seven-piece pill case to organize daily vitamins and medications or the capsules bundle that’s customizable to fill with anything from toothpaste and skin cream to supplements. If you’re more about accessories, go for the jewelry set or keep it casual with the Situationship Set.
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Planeket
Living in Anchorage, Chinese American Jin Chen came up with Planeket to serve multiple purposes during air travel. At its core, it’s a cozy blanket, sure to add comfort to any plane ride. But it also doubles as a wearable shawl (there's an S-shaped clip on the back to keep it in place around your shoulders), a pillow when folded up, and a storage pouch with a hidden pocket and a phone holder. Plus, it straps onto rolling luggage or clips onto a bag for easy transport. The four shades of the original Planeket—Alaska Flag, Glacier Mint, Silt Gray, and Alpenglow—all pay homage to Chen's home state.
Chen has since expanded her brand to include even more travel-friendly products, including a foldable sleeping eye mask and six-piece compression packing system designed to give you 33 percent more space.
Clothing essentials
Forme
Aches and pains have long plagued my travels, so when I first learned about Forme, which makes posture-correcting bras, I had to give it a try. Admittedly, it took some getting used to, but soon I realized how much lighter my shoulders were and how I was focusing on my actual adventures instead of fighting a fatigued neck and shoulders.
It wasn’t until later that I learned Taylor Swift was a fan of the Forme’s Power Bra, with FDA-registered correction technology—and even later than I learned the company was founded by a Taiwanese orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Liu to help his mom with her posture and compressed lungs from cancer.
Now the brand’s Sculpt+ Legging is among my favorites to run and travel in. Also great to alleviate natural pain on long travel days: the Arch Booster Sock and Core Tee.
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Beauty and skincare
Tower 28
As a longtime beauty executive, Chinese American Amy Liu wasn’t able to enjoy the perks of playing around with all the products around her—eczema left her dependent on high-priced or clinical alternatives. So she launched Tower 28, a brand suitable for all skin types, with every ingredient complying with the National Eczema Association’s guidelines. The line includes the popular SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray to freshen up stressed skin and BeachPlease cream blush for cheeks and lips in six shades. Build your own set of five must-have travel staples, including tinted moisturizer and mascara, with the Tower 28 Essentials Set.
Oliver Flynn
When Brooklyn-based Taiwanese sisters Kathy Yen and Erine Yen both became new moms, they started to think ahead to an eco-friendlier world for their kids, Oliver “Ollie” and Flynn. So they launched Oliver Flynn, dedicated to plastic-free personal care products with safe ingredients.
I stumbled upon their booth at Manhattan’s Passport to Taiwan Festival two years ago, and as a bug magnet, the Don't Bug Me! natural bug repellent balm has become a staple in my travel bag. Other great sustainable options include a honey and citrus shampoo bar with a travel tin and natural lip balm, available in lavender, vanilla, peppermint, and natural.
Tay Skincare
Growing up eating organic fruits from her family’s garden, Sarah Tay was stumped when she moved out and saw the drastic difference in her first store-bought orange. That contrast sent her on a decade-long mission to better understand how to develop high-end botanical skincare products. The result is Tay, a line made in small batches every few months without any harsh ingredients, all of which are packaged in natural bamboo containers made of recyclable PET. Among the highlights are the Youthful Eye Treatment with apricot kernel oil, Lavender Body Crème with chamomile, and the long-lasting Essential Oils Bar Soap.
Tatcha
During a trip to Kyoto, Vicky Tsai—the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants—was inspired by the Japanese approach to skincare that less is more; she founded Tatcha with that idea in mind. With products like the Silken Pore Perfecting SPF and Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, the brand is built on green tea, algae, and rice—the three ingredients that make up Japanese geishas’ beauty rituals. Travelers can even curate their own Custom Travel Set (prices vary). Plus, with every purchase, the company helps fund girls’ education through Room to Read.
Skylar
When Taiwanese American Cat Chen—who has openly shared her experience as an immigrant in an Instagram video—started looking for a fragrance that was “fresh and sophisticated,” but didn’t contain any harmful chemicals or allergens, she couldn’t find any that checked all the boxes. So she started her own line of natural perfumes called Skylar. Among the travel-sized rollerball scents are the driftwood-infused Salt Air and the popular ocean Isle Escape. Also in travel-friendly sizes: a body and hair mist duo and a range of mini fragrances, like Rainforest Mist or Lavendar Dunes.
