Siying Qu and Haoran Li, the creative forces behind Private Policy, use fashion to amplify their voices and spark change. Recent 2023-2024 finalists in the CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant and the 2019 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists, Private Policy is known for focusing on one social topic each season to create awareness through bold, impactful designs.
With the photo series “Powerful Women,” the designers reimagine what leadership can look like, celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander women shaping society and making vital contributions from historically underrepresented communities.
Featured in the series are Jodie Chan, Fashion Marketing Executive; Sandra Park, Senior Luxury Fashion Merchant; Sarika Rastogi; Head of Brand Marketing and Communications at MCM for North, Central and South Americas; Evelyn Yang; Author and Advocate; Helen Nguyen, Chef and Founder of Saigon Social; Laura Chau, VC Partner at Canaan Partners; Alina Cho, Emmy Award-Winning Contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, Producer of the Martha Netflix documentary, and Host of The Atelier with Alina Cho, and her mother, Young Ja Cho.
Qu served as Executive Producer and Li as Creative Director, with Huy Luong serving as Photographer and Mickey Boardman and Yao King as Special Project Advisors.
We spoke to Siying and Haoran to learn more about the project. Check it out!
What inspired you to focus on powerful AAPI women?
As members of the AAPI community, this topic resonates deeply with us. Female leaders in our community have contributed so much, caring with wisdom, and fighting for justice with passion. Our recent experience in the CFDA x Genesis House AAPI Design and Innovation program further inspired this series as the first part of our portrait project.
How did you curate the first lineup of powerful women?
We sought nominations and community recommendations, especially from our mentors Mickey Boardman at PAPER Magazine and Yao King, who introduced us to many of these influential women. Some incredible AAPI leaders couldn’t participate in the photoshoot but gave us heartfelt support, which meant a lot to us.
How did each woman inspire you?
These women inspire us through their distinct accomplishments. Jodie Chan, Sarika Rastogi, and Sandra Park showcase the power of style and business excellence, while Laura Chau embodies strategic vision in venture capital and innovation. Evelyn Yang’s advocacy and courage to speak out, Helen Nguyen’s culinary work along with cultural heritage and entrepreneurship, and Alina Cho’s Emmy Award-winning journalism and influential conversation series highlight the power of storytelling and inspire curiosity across industries. Finally, Young Ja Cho’s legacy of love, resilience, and family influence on Alina reflects the generations of women who paved the way.
What differentiates them and what similar values do they all share?
Through the photoshoot, we got to know their unique personalities, fashion styles, and leadership approaches. Our goal was to capture each individual’s style through PRIVATE POLICY collections, embracing our philosophy of “making your own rules.” While each is distinct, they share similar values—strength, confidence, compassion, and wisdom. Their compassion, in particular, stood out, as they all strive to improve their communities through words and actions.
What did you learn from the project, and what do you hope those who see the photos will take away from them?
We learned just how significant and often underrepresented the contributions of female leaders are. We hope the photos encourage viewers to rethink who gets to be a leader and the multifaceted nature of true leadership.
