Last November, the collective known as House of Slay stepped onstage at Casa Cipriani to accept their CFDA Award for Positive Social Influence. The group, composed of fashion stakeholders Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Tina Leung, and Ezra William, received the honorary award to celebrate their achievements for the AAPI community.

The longtime friends established House of Slay in 2021 at the height of the pandemic, as hate crimes and acts of discrimination against the community were rising. The collective serves to uplift and support the underrepresented and empower each individual to be their own superhero.

In honor of AAPI Month, we caught up with the co-founders to hear more about their plans this month and how they will be celebrating their culture.

Ezra J William, Restaurateur

How will you be celebrating AAPI Month? 

With friends with love and gratitude!

What is your favorite cultural tradition you have kept with you over the years? 

I still celebrate Chinese New Year with my family and loved ones whenever I can – with traditional home cooked Chinese food of course!

Do you have a mantra and/or saying you live by?

Always live with humility and live authentically as who you are!

Prabal Gurung, Designer

How will you be celebrating AAPI Month? 

With gratitude and intentions with my friends and family.

What is your favorite cultural tradition you have kept with you over the years? 

Sharing stories over sumptuous meals.

Do you have a mantra and/or saying you live by?

Courage is Grace under Pressure – Ernest Hemingway (think it was Hemingway)

Tina Leung, Stylist & Fashion Creative

How will you be celebrating AAPI Month? 

Through food with loved ones and by showing up!

What is your favorite cultural tradition you have kept with you over the years?

Lighting lanterns and walking in the park with them for mid-autumn festival!

Do you have a mantra and/or saying you live by? 

Choose love.

Phillip Lim, Designer

How will you be celebrating AAPI Month? 

I will be crisscrossing the country to celebrate the multitudes of our AAPI communities. From organizations such as Apex for Youth – serving underserved youth, hosting multi-generational conversations about our Asian American experience at TAAD – to AAPI celebrations at the White House.

What is your favorite cultural tradition you have kept with you over the years? 

It would be our annual Lunar New Year celebration.

Do you have a mantra and/or saying you live by?

‘Respect your elders’ is something is an important wisdom in Asian culture.

Laura Kim, Designer

“May is always my favorite month of the year; it’s the prettiest when seasons change and plants start blooming and it also happens to be AAPI month. I usually find myself spending this month with family and close friends enjoying the outdoors and the vibrant colors of spring.”