Behind every jaw-dropping gown worn by celebrities on the red carpet or the avant-garde creations that walk down the runway during fashion week, there is a team of seamstresses working tirelessly to bring this vision to life. Now, a community that rarely finds themselves in the spotlight is getting their time to shine.

A new documentary short film from director Jia Li follows the work and lives of eight Asian women in various parts of New York’s fashion industry. The project was produced and spearheaded by Jodie Chan, a fashion executive with years of experience in the industry, in the wake of the ongoing hate crimes directed towards the Asian community. An essential community in fashion, many of these workers remain hidden figures, without the chance to share their stories. Just in time for AAPI Heritage Month, the new film offers an opportunity to celebrate these incredible women.

We spoke with Chan to hear more about how this project came to life.

Congratulations on this new project! What inspired you to bring this film together?  

Thank you! This has been a labor of love that has been a long time in the making. Since the past year’s rise of hate crimes against the Asian community, particularly against women, I have been thinking about how we can channel this frustration and fear into something more constructive and empowering. I’ve worked with some incredible women who have been the backbone of the Garment District – patternmakers and seamstresses, whose stories and voices are rarely heard. When we think about the fashion media landscape, rarely have we put the spotlight on the hands that make it. When we think about Asian seamstresses, there’s often negative connotations such as cheap labor or fast fashion, when the ladies I know – including the eight amazing women who we profile in this film – have made the most wonderous pieces, from dresses for Michelle Obama to gowns for the Met Gala (Christine Baranski and Precious Lee’s look this year, for example!). Invisible Seams is about celebrating these women, their craft and their stories.

How did you connect with the director Jia Li, and why was she the right person for this project?

I came across Jia’s work when I watched her short documentary Spicy Village, which was so compelling and such an intimate and authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience. I knew she would be the right person to tell this story, with such respect and careful consideration of her subjects, and I was thrilled that she was on board the moment I shared the idea with her.

Why is this story especially important to share now? 

To be candid, it is not the safest time to be an Asian woman in New York or in America right now, marked by unrelenting hate crimes and acts of violence. I think part of the reason we are particularly vulnerable is that our stories are not often familiar to the wider public, and as such we are seen as voiceless and therefore easy targets. We hope that through this film, we can build more empathy and understanding of these eight incredible women and the community at large, so that we can build a stronger community of allies and supporters to get us through this challenging time.

What do you hope viewers take away from this documentary?

This film is a celebration of this part of the fashion industry that is often overlooked – the hands who make some of our most memorable looks on the red carpet or in our wardrobes. We hope that with this documentary, we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the greater community who make up the fashion business.

How will you be celebrating AAPI Month?

It has been wonderful to see the feedback and outpouring of support of this film and we will continue to keep it going. Every month should be AAPI Heritage Month! As with celebrating the Black community or the Latinx community, the work is always on. We are excited about hosting digital and hopefully in person screenings in the coming months.