May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada and AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month in the United States. This month celebrates the contributions and influence of Asian and AAPI North Americans in history and culture. With 1 in 10 Asian-owned companies in America, we thought this month would be a great time to highlight some Asian-owned brands you can support.
With millions of Asian-owned e-commerce brands worldwide, this list barely scratches the surface, so let us know what some of your favorites are. On this blog, we spotlight brands in various industries such as food and beverage, beauty and skin care, stationery and accessories, pet care, and more. We’ve already shared six great brands on social media, but we didn’t want to stop there, so here are 15 more stores to check out.
1. Daan Go Cake Lab
Founded by Masterchef Canada winner Christopher Siu, Daan Go Cake Lab is a pastry shop specializing in adorable and delicious cakes and desserts. From Daan Go Cake Lab, which are almost too cute to eat, to authentic Asian-inspired matcha cakes, Daan Go Cake Lab has something to suit every customer’s taste. Next time you’re in downtown Toronto or Vancouver, pop into one of their bakeries and grab a treat or a dozen.
2. ORG Skin Care
With unique skincare formulas rooted in Asian beauty traditions, ORG Skincare aims to make achieving your skin goals easy. Their products are formulated with gentle yet highly effective ingredients that target not just one, but a number of common skin concerns. ORG understands that both skin and life are complex, which is why its products are designed to be easy to use and adaptable to different skin needs. Check out their popular Mineral Facial Peel and Body Peel or Detox Body Bar or try all three in their Total Body Trio.
3. Gr8nola
With a mission to make clean snacks available around the world, gr8nola (‘awesome’ nola) is a superfood granola brand whose products are pure and free of additives, refined sugar, dairy, soy and GMOs. Erica, founder and former Olympic swimmer, was looking for a crunchy yet delicious snack that she could enjoy with her husband and during the annual cleanse. With that, gr8nola was born and is now loved by thousands of fitness enthusiasts and foodies. Add one of their signature granola flavors or original mix to your cart today!
4. Emboss Beauty
Julia Vuong, founder of Emboss Beauty, has six years of experience as a professional makeup artist for high-end brands and celebrities. During that time, she learned a thing or two about false eyelashes, which inspired her to create her own brand to bring the perfect lashes to everyone. Emboss Beauty’s lashes have gained popularity going viral on TikTok due to their wide range of styles and focus on comfort and quality. Whether you’re applying falsies for the first time or looking for your perfect fit, find the perfect product for you with Emboss Beauty’s Lash Quiz.
5. Happy Pops
Summer is just around the corner, which makes it a great time to discover a new, frozen treat. According to its website, “Happy Pops are all natural ice pops made with real fruit and sweetened with a hint of organic cane sugar, resulting in just 35-75 calories per pop.” Paying homage to her South Asian heritage, Leila designed a range full of flavors that can’t be found anywhere else. From Saffron Cardamom Kulfi to Peach Mango, you can create a box of Happy Pops packed with your favorite flavors.
6. Kee Wah Bakery
If your taste buds weren’t tingling yet, this next brand will definitely wake them up. Kee Wah Bakery is a bakery based in the San Francisco Bay Area that specializes in Chinese wedding cakes. Honoring this beautiful tradition, their wedding cakes are filled with sweet lotus, red or green bean paste, or walnuts and are meant to be a token of the bride’s gratitude from the groom’s family. In addition to this traditional product line, Kee Wah Bakery sells a wide variety of sweet and savory Asian pastries.
7. Iremia Skin care
As is the story of many skincare brands, Iremia Skincare was born out of the founder’s own skincare struggles. Elaine was looking for something to manage her sensitive and reactive skin. By creating a list of ingredients she wanted to avoid, Elaine was able to create an award-winning, low-dose natural skincare line that helps manage and restore skin. If you’re not sure where to start, shop customer favorites like All Calm Facial Mist or The Soothing Lotion, or take their personalized skincare quiz.
8. Raychoo Studios
Looking to add some quirk and personality to your living space? Raychoo Studios has you covered. Owned and operated by Rachel, an artist, designer and entrepreneur, this stationery and accessories brand offers dozens of products inspired by Rachel’s childhood and her favorite foods. Maybe you want to decorate your office with a sushi mouse pad or think this Bubble Tea Card will put a smile on your mom’s face. Whatever your style, keep an eye on Raychoo Studios for their latest adorable product drops.
9. Kaja Beauty
Known for its viral beauty bento boxes, Kaja Beauty is the first K-beauty brand to ever partner with Sephora. Kaja means “let’s go” in Korean, which inspired the design of the brand’s oversized, multi-functional product. With the latest Korean technology and formulations, Kaja products are as beautiful as they are good. Shop her eye, face and lip products to find the perfect shade, style and fit for you. Or take his 30-second Kutie quiz to get the full line of products straight to your inbox.
10. Guinea daddy
Pet parents are always looking for communities to share ideas, stories and love for their furry friends. And while there are endless dog and cat brands, smaller animals don’t always get the same love. That’s why co-founders Si Lee (Guinea Dad) and Sean Hahn (Guinea Godfather) launched Guinea Dad. This one-stop shop for quality guinea pig bedding, grooming tools, toys and more is dedicated to bridging the resource gap for small animal owners. They have also recently released the Bunny Dad for your high quality bunny needs.
11. I Dew Care
Skincare is self-care and should put a smile on your face. This K beauty brand is on a mission to provide “seriously fun skincare.” I Dew Care blends scientifically proven skincare formulas with bright, fun packaging to deliver a joyful skincare regimen that delivers real results for everyone. With over 10 million likes on TikTok, this viral skincare brand is adored for its products and bubbly personality. Try some fan-favorites with the Vitamin to-Glow or Scoop Party product packs.
12. Flair Fighter
Founded in 2020 as a way to express their creativity, Canadian illustrators Jeannie and Kevin launched Flair Flighter, a boutique full of beautiful gifts that will put a smile on your face. Flair Fighter sells enamel pins inspired by puns, cute animals and a good laugh. During the pandemic, these designs were the perfect gift to send to your loved ones to show them you care. Today, the brand offers pencils, stickers, key chains and more that are guaranteed to brighten your day.
13. YINA
Inspired by the concept of “Yang Sheng”, a lifestyle that embodies the spirit of traditional Chinese medicine, YINA is a health and skin care brand. YINA stands for “harmony and beauty”, in line with the founders’ belief that the two go hand in hand. After co-founder Ervina Wu healed herself through Chinese medicine during her cancer treatment, she wanted to make it available to others going through the same battle. YINA offers a wide variety of botanical serums, supplements and skin care products that help customers achieve a radiant glow from the inside out.
14. One more time with love
After leaving dentistry to work in visual effects in the film industry, Margaret was really inspired by making stickers for her friend. The founder of Once More With Love decided it was time to start a new journey in life, but this time with love. The brand sells hand-drawn and handmade stickers that are sure to add personality to your planners, journals, calendars or wherever you choose to use them. With fun, cute and adorable designs, you can find a sticker that perfectly expresses every mood.
15. UMA Oils
Inspired by the 5,000-year-old wisdom of Ayurveda, UMA is a luxury, beauty and wellness brand that uses Indian-grown botanicals. With values of universal healing, tradition and love, UMA sources all of its botanical oils from its 100-acre meadow in India. Raised in India, founder Shrankhla Holecek was dismayed to see appropriations of the Indian rituals and Ayurvedic practices she grew up with when she moved to Beverly Hills. That’s why he founded UMA to create a complete line of artisanal, effective products. Today, UMA is loved by thousands of customers who appreciate the brand’s “culmination of rich tradition, powerful science and, above all, love.”
Share your favorite Asian and AAPI brands
Each of these brands not only offers great products, but they also come with a history steeped in culture, inspiration and tradition. When you support North American Asian brands, you help amplify marginalized voices. We know we’ve only featured a few of the millions of amazing brands out there, so take to social media to let us know your favorites. May is a great month to shop Asian brands, but so are June, July, August and…
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