June is Immigrant Heritage Month—a perfect reason to celebrate for our fashion industry, which was largely built by immigrants and continues to be fueled by those who came here to live the American Dream – from designers to merchandisers, seamstresses, pattern-cutters, and more.
To mark Immigrant Heritage Month, we checked in with Prabal Gurung, a native of Nepal, to and we are planning a series on CFDA.com and CFDA social channels to celebrate it throughout the month.
Why did you decide to establish yourself in the U.S.?
America is one of the only places in the world where one can dream a better reality and make it happen for themselves. I had the American Dream, and I made it my mission to see my dream through. I came to New York not only because it is a fashion capital, but also because it is a true melting pot. People of different castes, religions, colors, ethnicities and sexual orientations truly co-exist, and the ones who thrive and rise to the top are the ones with ambition, passion and grit.
How would you describe your experience as an immigrant?
I left my family back home in Nepal and came to New York knowing no one, with only a dream of becoming a fashion designer and creating a name for myself. I became an American citizen two years ago and it’s a very powerful feeling. Calling oneself an American is also a great responsibility. I’ve been fortunate enough to build a platform to impact lives in Nepal and globally because of my work in America. That dream is made possible here and it came true. It is the land of those who have immigrated from all across the globe and made this country the most powerful and influential in the world. For a long time, it has been a land of hope, and I want to believe that it still can be.
In honor of Immigrant Heritage month, which immigrants to America have most inspired you and how so?
There are so many American Immigrants I find inspiring. Madeleine Albright was exiled from her home during WWII and went on to serve as our first female Secretary of State. Ariana Huffington came to the U.S. from Greece and she completely disrupted the media landscape with The Huffington Post. My dear friends Nasiba Adilova and Miroslava Duma came here from Russia and are working tirelessly to bring tech innovation and fashion together. We were all immigrants at some point, and I believe it is important to recognize and remember America’s foundation as a rare and exceptional melting pot.
