{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-article-tsx","path":"/primeculturalfashion","result":{"data":{"primeArticle":{"slug":"prime.culturalfashion","excerpt":"Photographer Neha Krishnakumar explores how, for some UCLA students, fashion serves as a connection to their familial and ethnic backgrounds.","headline":"Traveling Threads, Cultural Connections","author":"Neha Krishnakumar","authorbio":"","authoremail":"","authortwitter":"","coverimg":"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/IMG_4129_Original-446de19e359a5887d5a29fe5f5dd3a2f.jpg","covercred":"Neha Krishnakumar","coveralt":"Photograph of a fashion sketch.","articleType":"article","updated":"","content":[{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Neha Kondeti:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Neha Kondeti, a second-year mathematics/economics student, wears a vibrant pink lehenga with gold embroidered detailing. She is wearing pearl and gold jhumkas, a silver bindi, henna designs on her hands and assorted bangles to finish off the look."},{"type":"text","value":"As she grew older, Kondeti began experimenting with adding small Indian influences to her American fashion sense. By the time she became Miss Teen India North Carolina in 2022, she regularly embraced cultural ties into her daily outfits – melding jhumkas with American tops or incorporating bindis as part of makeup looks. Her overseas grandparents and extended family were excited that their American granddaughter showcased pride in her Indian culture and roots."},{"type":"text","value":"“At first when I was intertwining our culture into my style, I would wear them as a statement piece. That would be like a gold bindi,” Kondeti said. “But once I switched to black, this more casual everyday bindi in India ... it's no longer this tool that I use or this accessory. It's just something I identify with.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Neha Kondeti.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/6-IMG_3241_Original-1f18c93688a39472f7660cec8bdacfab.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"line","value":"{\"filler\":\"filler\"}"},{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Katherine (Kett) Xie:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Katherine “Kett” Xie, a UCLA alumnus, blends modern fashion with traditional styles from Chinese history. Her low-necked, long-sleeved top and cropped skirt are paired with a fluffy fur collar and arm cuffs inspired by the nomadic Manchus. She drapes a yunjian over her skirt – a piece that is traditionally worn around the shoulders but that Xie feels more confident sporting on her waist. Her hair accessories are inspired by Qing Dynasty fashion, while her jade necklace and makeup – including huadian, or fake dimples – are based on other dynasties throughout Chinese history."},{"type":"text","value":"Growing up in America, Xie struggled to find qipaos that fit her body type because of their limited sizing options and structured bodices. She found that the revival of other traditional Chinese styles, like the Han Dynasty traditional hanfu dress, provide more universally flattering alternatives. Now, she draws inspiration from pieces of traditional wear and incorporates them into outfits that flatter her body shape while paying homage to her roots."},{"type":"text","value":"“Fashion has been my way of expressing myself, and personally it's my way of embracing my own body and being comfortable in it,” Xie said. “Also, getting over a lot of childhood struggles, with people telling you that you’re not pretty enough or not fitting certain standards. And then you realize, no, it’s just because certain clothes that I've been put in as a child just didn't fit me.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Katherine Xie.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/21-IMG_3393_Original-c3f8561196cf9aeb2307d8f9df52b348.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"line","value":"{\"filler\":\"filler\"}"},{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Tiffany Peverilla:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Tiffany Peverilla, a fourth-year cognitive science student, wears a pastel yellow kebaya with colorful floral embroidery that she regularly wears as a layering piece. It was custom-made for a wedding when they were 7 years old, and it still fits them today – albeit in a different style."},{"type":"text","value":"Peverilla grew up in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, where they found most people dressed in a fusion of cross-cultural styles. Yet very revealing clothing was still eyed with scrutiny despite its roots in colonial Indonesian fashion, she said."},{"type":"text","value":"When Peverilla attended an international high school, they gradually came to terms with how beauty is never just Eurocentric. She now sees her features – ones she used to criticize – as a representation of her cultural history. Moving to the U.S. for college, Peverilla has learned to embrace their cultural heritage and distinctive garments more deeply than ever before."},{"type":"text","value":"“It's my first time seeing a group of very diverse people,” she said. “I feel I should be at least a little more prideful of where I came from, and what my culture is, and how they dress because now I feel like this [kebaya] is really nice and it's very unique.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Tiffany Peverilla.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/23-IMG_3420_Original-f123748be93c6c93fdb132ae722358c2.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"line","value":"{\"filler\":\"filler\"}"},{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Juwan Madaki:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Juwan Madaki, a UCLA alumnus, finds daily inspiration in other students as the co-founder of spotteducla. Her buckled boots and knit skirt – which is actually a distressed shirt– are both thrifted, as Madaki loves to rework old clothes into new possibilities. Her red rose shirt is inspired by a modern-day resurgence of a floral trend from the early 2000s. She tops it all off with a colorful patterned scarf, which her mother mailed to her from Nigeria."},{"type":"text","value":"Madaki’s style was influenced by her family, experiences and the people around her. She wears traditional Nigerian clothing to various celebrations and implements cultural touches like headscarves into her everyday outfits. Although Nigerian norms might lean toward more conservative wear, she believes this does not prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves or showcasing their identities to the fullest extent."},{"type":"text","value":"“When it comes to jewelry and fashion, in Nigeria it's ‘go big or go home,” Madaki said. “You might see the bulky rings from thrift stores, but trust – you have not seen the bulky jewelry that you see in Nigerian culture. ... As I'm getting older, I love to decorate myself with that jewelry as well.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Juwan Madaki.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/IMG_3620_Original-4d3ce7912ca5b5a9ec17b0acee1daef1.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"line","value":"{\"filler\":\"filler\"}"},{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Kanwulia Onianwa:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Kanwulia Onianwa, a fourth-year sociology student and stylist, built her outfit around a Nigerian dress gifted by her grandmother. Her grandmother and Nigerian culture have long inspired her fashion choices, especially when it comes to bold colors and gold statement jewelry. She completed the look with a thrifted yellow bag and a vibrant rose hair clip."},{"type":"text","value":"Onianwa sees fashion as her art form, and she has continuously challenged herself to try new silhouettes and colors. She knows that many people might find her style to be too extra or avant-garde at times, but she’s learned to embrace that – surrounding herself with creative people and settings where she feels inspired."},{"type":"text","value":"Onianwa is considering a career in celebrity styling, where she hopes to work with innovative young artists who are disrupting fashion trends and expectations."},{"type":"text","value":"“I'm never, ever going to try to dim my light,” Onianwa said. “It's just how I like to have fun. Everyone knows that.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Kanwulia Onianwa.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/63-IMG_4229_Original-0e5a57f99404b494a70a36eebcd65a51.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"line","value":"{\"filler\":\"filler\"}"},{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Melanie Hernandez:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Melanie Hernandez, a sociology alumnus and fashion designer, features one of her designs in progress – a cropped neon green blazer with silver skull embellishments."},{"type":"text","value":"Hernandez learned how to sew from her aunt, diving into fashion design during the pandemic. She has since then progressed from upcycling to designing full fashion lines. Her current line is drawn from her background in human resources, where she found office wear to be toned down and simple. After noticing there were few fellow Latino/Chicano people in office spaces, Hernandez hopes this line will serve to showcase and represent diverse voices in the workplace."},{"type":"text","value":"“I love pops of color, bold colors, things that are edgy, punk sometimes,” Hernandez said. “So playing that into the boring black-and-white, or the boring slacks or blazers, that's my main thing.”"},{"type":"text","value":"Hernandez was initially set on going to medical school, but her endeavors in fashion have led her to consider a future career in designing medical attire."},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Melanie Hernandez.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/IMG_4312_Original-4a01b67d11ab9337245740acc46967cd.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"line","value":"{\"filler\":\"filler\"}"},{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Miles Garofola-Lam, Davis Favors, Kirsten Yu, Nicole Pablico:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Miles Garofola-Lam, a fourth-year cognitive science student, describes his style as an “eccentric-core” melting pot of everything he likes. His outfit consists of oversized denim shorts passed down from his stepfather’s own college years, a cropped t-shirt emblazoned with “Rat Girl,” a double zipped-jacket found at Goodwill, buffalo shoes with leg warmers and earmuffs from New York fashion store Happy99. He is also wearing a jade Buddha necklace that was gifted by his grandparents, and he often swaps out the chain to wear the charm in various styles."},{"type":"text","value":"“My grandparents partake in Buddhism and they love going to the temple and volunteering,” Garofola-Lam said. “Although I'm personally not Buddhist, I wear a lot of the jewelry because my grandparents gave it to me, so when I wear it, ... I feel them with me.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Miles Garofola-Lam.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/35-IMG_3757_Original-785565dcb394f6b73755b62db6a49fa9.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Other students had similar methods of incorporating simple cultural flairs into their personal styles. Davis Favors, a second-year theater student, added a beaded jade bracelet he got in Hong Kong to his high-fashion outfit – otherwise inspired by his hometown in New Jersey. This includes Balenciaga strike boots, a Vivienne Westwood T-shirt and a Maison Margiela quilted velvet bomber jacket."},{"type":"text","value":"“Nothing that I currently wear is representative of that [my culture], shout-out to my Jamaicans though,” Favors said. “I show more of my culture in where I'm from. So although I may not dress street-style, it's definitely been an evolution from that. ... If you go to my town in New Jersey, it’s just a lot of fly young individuals who are on top of their artistic game and we all try to do what we can to show out.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Davis Favors.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/39-IMG_3816_Original-99d7d183ba347698dd4738149e2c4d12.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Nicole Pablico, a third-year nursing student, is wearing a thrifted top from a flea market she found on Instagram, boots from Depop and stockings from Urban Outfitters. Her jewelry is handed down from the women in her family – one is a beaded crystal protection bracelet from her sister, and others include bracelets and a necklace handed down from the generations of jewelers on her mom’s side of the family."},{"type":"text","value":"Kirsten Yu, a fourth-year neuroscience student, repurposed a friend’s skirt from a clothing swap into a dress, added a vintage belt from her roommate’s grandmother’s dance costumes and completed the look with thrifted boots."},{"type":"text","value":"Pablico has spent years developing her style, and finds thrifting to be the best way to curate a wardrobe that reflects her personality. Most of her jewelry pieces are heirlooms that have been passed down through her family for generations, and she appreciates knowing that there’s a hidden history behind each piece. Although she doesn’t necessarily incorporate aspects of her Filipino heritage into her outfits, she said each outfit still speaks to her individuality."},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Kirsten Yu.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/IMG_3743_Original-524cfad8a29c35860e4df96e531fb503.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"“The way I would describe my style is rugged, vintage, worn in,” Pablico said. “I like clothing that tells a story.”"},{"type":"text","value":"Like Pablico, Yu also draws inspiration from family jewelers, as her grandmother owns a jewelry shop. When she wears rings and other pieces that have been passed down through her family, Yu feels like she has a part of her family with her. While her taste in jewelry draws on the Chinese side of her family, she finds that her attitude towards fashion is derived from what she describes as the Brazilian free spirit. Yu describes this attitude as the foundation of her style’s confidence and vibrant energy."},{"type":"text","value":"“I like to think of fashion as a language with many different dialects,” Yu said. “There are obviously many different sub-communities within the larger fashion community, and that’s where you see different people recognizing different things that they see or that they find appealing or flattering ... and that's where I feel like that language component kind of comes in because it's almost like you're connecting with them without even saying anything.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Nicole Pablico.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/IMG_3697_Original-43806f2347c0069e1bc21db9e62fa595.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"line","value":"{\"filler\":\"filler\"}"},{"type":"subheading","value":"{\"name\":\"Sanya Khan, Miguel Martinez, Sean Ferdinand Clenista:\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Sean Ferdinand Clenista, a second-year education and labor studies student, is clad in an all-green look, echoing the greenery of her home in the Philippines. She wears a cropped knitwear sweater inspired by her friends from home with thrifted shorts and a Filipino sun necklace."},{"type":"text","value":"“Fashion gives me the outlet of expressing who I am,” Clenista said. “No matter where I am, I can express what I feel inside through what I wear on the outside. Fashion is just so fun and freeing because I don't have to worry about explaining how I feel, I don't have to worry about getting validation of who I am.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Sean Ferdinand Clenista.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/42-IMG_3878_Original-d6bd6d4349923d4fcc3b3badac36a855.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Clenista used to feel pressured to dress more masculine to conform to the conventions of her home in the Philippines where the influence of machismo culture was ever-present. Miguel Martinez, a fourth-year economics student, similarly grappled with machismo culture, often feeling that he had to be the man of the family and fit into cultural norms as their only son. Yet he has grown to embrace his femininity with unique silhouettes – sporting an all-black outfit with black leather shoes, oversized pants from a Vietnamese small business and a shirt from Enter Nostalgia – a Filipino-based brand that incorporates traditional weaving patterns into its tops."},{"type":"text","value":"“During my time in the Philippines, I've always dressed up pretty manly,” Martinez said. “When I moved here to Los Angeles, there were different resources for me to fully explore fashion – it isn’t about one spectrum in terms of someone's gender, but rather a form of self-expression. I was able to explore more into my feminine side.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Miguel Martinez.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/48-IMG_4081_Original-f135a4b8bd266c45b526ae5bf680b98b.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"},{"type":"text","value":"Sanya Khan, a third-year dance and psychobiology student, has also found more freedom to express her fashion at UCLA, finding ownership and individuality in the variety of styles worn by students on campus. Khan’s outfit is Indo-Western inspired, and she wears a white, green and blue accented skirt with a simple black blouse, green bracelets and jhumka earrings."},{"type":"text","value":"“They [UCLA students] wear whatever they want, and they're so beautiful in every little thing that they do,” Khan said. “I've found so much gratitude in that. It's so gracious for people to just embrace themselves however they want. And I feel like I'm not being judged for the first time in a very long time.”"},{"type":"image","value":"{\"alt\":\"Photograph of Sanga Khan.\",\"url\":\"https://assets3.dailybruin.com/images/prime.culturalfashion/IMG_4055_Original-efe49adcd77e340681a4009aefe72193.jpg\",\"credit\":\"Neha Krishnakumar/Daily Bruin staff\",\"caption\":\"\"}"}]}},"pageContext":{"term":"fall24","slug":"prime.culturalfashion"}},"staticQueryHashes":[]}