Photo: Launchmetrics
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that accessories are the cornerstones of every outfit—the perfect finishing touch, if you will. Apart from making an outfit go from drab to fab, it also offers endless possibilities for creative expression. Enter a new breed of Asian female-owned brands offering just that. From pierced sunglasses to orchid-embellished heels, there women are redefining the fashion landscape and highlighting the diversity and creativity of Asian artisans. Ahead, we share our favourite Asian female-led accessory brands to shop, so get your wallets ready!
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1. CHAUFIFTH
Hailing from Vietnam, Chaufifth is one of the nation's most "it" brands, mostly known of social media for reasonably priced bags that are trendy yet unique and their specialisation in geometric shapes. Founder, Hoang Chau, has a special affiliation to the number five, referring to it as the spirit of the brand, which essentially means to be in the middle of high and low—with trending yet innovative designs and high quality materials and reasonable prices. Chaufifth has flourished into a success, boasting three physical stores in Vietnam and with rapid growth within overseas customers through many e-commerce channels.
Visit their website here.
2. YVMIN
Chinese label YVMIN was founded by the husband-wife power duo Xiaoyu Zhang and Min Li in 2015. The brand approaches accessories as forms of art, regularly developing whimsical pieces that are bold, and somewhere between cute and edgy. Their most recognisable pieces are the teddy bear-clad jewellery, bow-embellished hair ties and oversized shell-inspired claw clip. These coquette-core items are all contrasted and complimented by chunky pearls and thick silver chains to achieve a feminine look with a little edge. Their most recent collaboration with fellow Chinese power duo ShuShu/Tong featured bow-clad accessories and rhinestone embellished glasses which are highly sought-after and mostly sold out everywhere.
Visit their website here.
3. KAREN WAZEN COLLECTION
Lebanese-born and Dubai-based influencer Karen Wazen launched her eponymous eyewear brand in 2018. The entrepreneur's designs aim to harmonise fashion and functionality in her eyewear, focusing on its incredible ability to elevate an outfit with just a simple touch. With over 10 sunglasses collections and a newly-minted jewellery collection, Karen Wazen Collection shows no sign of slowing down. It boasts an impressive celebrity clientele— including the likes of Beyoncé and Shakira—and being sold at the most prestigious retail sites like Farfetch and Harrods.
Visit their website here.
4. TRIGGER HAPPY
Founded by Singaporean graphic designer Ella Zheng, Trigger Happy has grown to become one of the most well-known independent jewellery labels in the local fashion scene. Ella's work as an illustrator translates effortlessly into her Trigger Happy pieces, displaying her vibrant flair and artful eye with every intricately beaded necklace and bracelet. Each piece also includes a vintage or handmade statement charm that gives the accessory that extra 'oomph'. Orders can be custom-made or purchased through direct message on Instagram.
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5. LOVEBUG
Bangkok-based label Lovebug was founded by a group of girlfriends who began their journey fresh out of university in 2023. The young label's core design element is its integration of oversized flowers on heels, slippers and hair accessories. Each piece adorns an artificial flower, usually an orchid, blooming in its natural variations of hues and in their endless combinations. Additionally, if you're going for a bolder look, they also offer unique variations of the orchids with heart-shaped patterns or bead embellishments. Moreover, each piece is made-to-order, designed and made in Bangkok by Lovebug's dedicated team to ensure excellent quality. Purchases can be made via direct message on Instagram.
6. ARCUS PARIS
Arcus Paris was founded by Malaysian born designer Amanda Cheng in 2023. The brand specialises in pierced glasses, each manually drilled and adorned with chains, studs and rings. As highlighted on the brand's website, each purchase comes with a limited edition work of art that "only handcrafted creation can offer." The undeniably cool, one-woman team accessory brand is especially refreshing in a world of mass production.
Visit their website here.
7. BONBONWHIMS
The Y2K-inspired jewellery brand was founded by Hong Kong-born, New York-based entrepreneur Clare Ngai in 2021. The label was initially born as a passion project to raise awareness and funds for various BIPOC organisations which has since flourished. The brand's colourful creations has become a celebrity favourite, with pieces spotted on the likes of Ariana Grande, Gigi Hadid and Doja Cat. Their playful collections are all about vibrancy, usually mixing colourful enamel, resin and freshwater pearls.
Visit their website here.
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8. APEDE MOD
Apede Mod is a New York-based bag brand co-founded by Jaquelyn Wang and fashion buyer Claudia Lin in their search for the perfect everyday bag. The brand name encapsulates the pair’s message of empowerment; 'APEDE' originates from an ancient Egyptian god named Apedemak meaning courage and independence while 'MOD' stands for modern. Apede Mod's designs satisfy the requirements of an ideal everyday bag: Stylish, timeless and functional. Check, check and check!
Visit their website here.