70+ AAPI-Owned Brands to Support This May (and Every Day)

From beauty and apparel to food and home goods, these are AAPI-owned brands you can support year-round If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. May is here, which means it’s time to celebrate our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities with AAPI Month. One of the best ways to celebrate AAPI Month is by supporting Asian and Pacific Islander-owned companies.

There are thousands of such brands — both new and old — that are worthy of our hard-earned dough, no matter the time of year. “There have been several instances throughout my career where I’ve felt that others weren’t perceptive to my voice, or the voices of my Asian clients,” Lin Chen, CEO and founder of Pink Moon , told Rolling Stone in 2021 . As she was starting her business, Chen encountered some saddening realities about how little Asian women (and other women of color) are represented in the business side of the beauty industry. “Truthfully, learning those facts only fueled my desire and made me dream bigger.” While AAPI women are one of the fastest-growing demographics of entrepreneurs, funding remains one of the biggest challenges for AAPI business owners. CNBC reported that while there are dozens of professional networks available to the community, “‘very few’ provide the capital they need to grow and sustain their businesses in the long term.” Chen says that beauty rituals had helped her tremendously on her healing journey from a bad breakup, and she wanted to share that special form of self-care — this led to the release of their best-selling Rose Quartz Gua Sha Facial Tool . “Eventually, it became apparent that I needed to help others who were just as passionate about the power of beauty rituals. I want Pink Moon to become a space of empowerment and representation.” From everyday pantry staples to fashion and beauty essentials, there are plenty of ways to support Asian-owned brands. Here are some of the best AAPI-owned brands that stood out to us, as well as a list of others you should shop this May (or any time of the year, really). If you’ve ever found yourself with an overflowing toiletry bag every time you travel, Cadence has a solution for you. Completely stackable and magnetic, these will hold your essentials from shampoos, pills, and even jewelry. Founder Steph Hon travelled a lot for her career and found it hard to take her routine with her, so she created a thoughtful and sustainable packing system for people on the go. Step into interchangeable shoes with Alterre, where you’re essentially getting a 2-in-1 value due to its premise of removable straps.

Key points

• There are thousands of such brands — both new and old — that are worthy of our hard-earned dough, no matter the time of year.
• “There have been several instances throughout my career where I’ve felt that others weren’t perceptive to my voice, or the voices of my Asian clients,” Lin Chen, CEO and founder of Pink Moon , told…
• As she was starting her business, Chen encountered some saddening realities about how little Asian women (and other women of color) are represented in the business side of the beauty industry.
• “Truthfully, learning those facts only fueled my desire and made me dream bigger.” While AAPI women are one of the fastest-growing demographics of entrepreneurs, funding remains one of the biggest…
• CNBC reported that while there are dozens of professional networks available to the community, “‘very few’ provide the capital they need to grow and sustain their businesses in the long term.” Chen…