TW: There is a Filipino sun in the design. Why was that important to include?
LH: I am mixed. My mom is from the Philippines and my dad is from Minnesota. Being featured for AAPI Night, I wanted some visual sign of that. I am not trying to represent everyone. I am just representing myself and my experience. A lot of mixed people grow up feeling like they are both and neither at the same time. I want my work to help people feel seen, whether they share my background or not.
TW: What do you hope people feel when they see themselves in your work?
LH: Nobody is a monolith. AAPI is not one story. There are so many identities that will be in that building on that night. My hope is that someone sees something in the sweatshirt that feels familiar to them, even if it is small. And even if they do not connect to it culturally, they might just think, “That is cool. I want to wear that.” That matters too.