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Entrepreneur puts fun spin on Asian-themed clothing at Lychees Gone
Wild
By Jane Liaw,
Lychees Gone Wild
Lychees Gone Wild (LGW; www.lycheesgonewild.com) is an Asian-themed
clothing line founded in 2003 after creator Jane Liaw got the idea to
harness the popularity of the ubiquitous cute sloganed T-shirt to
express Asian pride. She sat down and made a list of Asian things that
she and her friends couldn’t live without (many of them foods, of
course), then brainstormed with them to come up with some catchy sayings
and snazzy illustrations. And so a small business was born.
The clothes have been a hit with Asians and non-Asians alike, since the
appreciation of sushi or Dance Dance Revolution knows no bounds. Some
popular designs include “Control your tempura!!” and “May the pho be
with you”—who doesn’t like a crispy, fresh-out-of-the-fryer tempura or a
hot, fragrant bowl of pho? And who doesn’t want to tell the world about
it? There are also designs for underappreciated Asian foods such as
stinky tofu and durian, foods that are “acquired tastes,” whose lively
aromas linger even after the food itself is history. There are clothes
for people who are passionate about mahjong or karaoke or the
aforementioned Dance Dance Revolution. Of course, the clothing line
would be incomplete without some lychee themes, so there are “Life is
like a bowl of lychees” shirts and the LGW dancing lychees logo on
shirts and bibs.
 Jane
named the company in honor of the lychee because it is a fruit most
Asians know well and have fond memories of, as well as something with
which non-Asian Americans are growing familiar. Lychee martinis have
recently become popular in bars all over the country, and lychee flavors
are popping up everywhere—there are even lychee farms in Florida (check
out the good people of www.lycheesonline.com, for example), making all
sorts of lychee products from their crops. The lychee represents all
that is good and lovely in Asian culture, and it’s catching on with all
those who enjoy delectable tastes.
Lychees Gone Wild uses only high-quality shirts made in the USA, by a
company known for its humane non-sweatshop working environment. LGW
shirts come in a variety of styles and colors, and in fact, if customers
order a dozen or more of a certain item, they can custom choose colors
and styles not usually available.
As the company grows, more designs will be added to the repertoire. The
LGW gospel has spread quickly by word of mouth and internet presence,
and has been featured in a Women’s Wear Daily article on ethnic-themed
brands. In the future, Jane hopes to keep promoting Asian culture
through Lychees Gone Wild, and to see other brands owned by
Asian-Americans, such as Happy Six and Angry Little Girls, thrive as
well.
You can visit the site at
www.lycheesgonewild.com.
Jane Liaw, the creator and owner of Lychees Gone
Wild, is also a writer, editor, and environmental health researcher. She
grew up in Singapore and the Bay Area of California, where she currently
lives. And she loves fresh juicy lychees. |
