This month is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! In recognition and celebration of this month, we’re highlighting several of our favorite Asian-owned brands. Read along with us!
Bitty Bao
Tell us about your business and what inspired you to start it.
We launched Bitty Bao a year and a half ago with the mission and dream of creating Chinese bilingual board books that celebrated culture and language in meaningful ways. Our children, Ella, Lukie, Madeline, and Nicolas are the inspiration behind Bitty Bao.
Bilingual books are hard to come by, so we decided to make some on our own.
What have been some of the most unexpected, yet favorite things about being a small business owner?
We had no idea when we started Bitty Bao how much we would love sharing this experience with our own children. Being able to model for them goal setting, perseverance, dedication, and dream chasing is invaluable. If mommy can do it, they can too!
What accomplishment are you most proud of to date?
One of the most rewarding accomplishments we have had during our journey was creating our Boba Emotions book. Chinese emotional vocabulary is challenging, so we partnered with Pacific Clinics to create a chart of 64 various emotion words for families to learn with their children. It’s our hope that with our book as a resource, families feel more comfortable expressing and teaching their children about all kinds of emotions.
Ellie & Becks
Tell us about your business and what inspired you to start it.
I came across an Asian doll for the first time ever when shopping for my daughter a few years ago, and it made me realize that growing up I'd never seen one. I've always strived to be inclusive with our kids' toys and books but had to go on extensive searches to find what I was looking for. I then decided to create a one-stop shop for families to find unique, inclusive products for their kids including curated toys, books, and handmade rattan items.
What have been some of the most unexpected, yet favorite things about being a small business owner?
The relationships we've developed with our customers and partners. There is nothing that cures a stressful day like receiving an email from a customer who is excited to find dolls or books that represent their families. We've also developed amazing friendships with other small business owners and global partners.
What accomplishment are you most proud of to date?
We created this business from scratch, with no prior experience in retail, product design, or importing. It has been an extremely steep learning curve and we've had some very hard lessons, but have gained so much invaluable knowledge along the way.
Indigrow
Tell us about your business and what inspired you to start it.
The story starts when we found out we were pregnant. I grew up in India, but 16 years and five countries later, I found myself about to raise a multicultural family with my South African husband, Rich. I dreamt about our future baby, I imagined him growing up, not only confident about his identity but also culturally aware, kind, and curious. I soon realized that many parents are navigating raising kids in an increasingly diverse world… And that was the beginning.
What have been some of the most unexpected, yet favorite things about being a small business owner?
I think it’s got to be the number of wonderful fellow moms, educators, and creators we have met and got to know over the course of our journey - women doing innovative things filled with purpose. It is such a joy to see folks following their passion and wanting to make a difference in the world!
What accomplishment are you most proud of to date?
The fact that we have stayed true to our vision, our purpose, and ourselves. Everything we do is rooted in child science & play, making it relevant and delightful. This balance has been hard to achieve but we are very proud of getting it right. We are passionate about empowering kids and their grown-ups to celebrate their own, as well as others’, diversity through our multicultural books, games, tools & resources.
Mochi Kids
Tell us about your business and what inspired you to start it.
Mochi Kids is a modern, unisex clothing brand made in the USA. Our designs are inspired by the things kids love with an aesthetic that parents love too! I started designing and screen printing tees as a hobby 7 years ago for my son who only wanted to wear one shirt over and over again. I decided to start designing tees inspired by things that he loved and our business grew organically from there!
What have been some of the most unexpected, yet favorite things about being a small business owner?
I love the community aspect of owning a small business! I've been able to connect with many other like-minded mamas all over the world through Mochi Kids and it’s been wonderful.
What accomplishment are you most proud of to date?
When I started Mochi Kids my husband had just finished grad school and had no money. I'm proud that I started my business with only $300 and it has grown slowly and organically from there.
We asked all these business owners, what are some other Asian-owned businesses, Asian artists, and/or creators that you love to support? Here’s a handful of the creators & brands they suggested!
Thank you so much to Bitty Bao, Ellie & Becks, Indigrow, and Mochi Kids for taking the time to share about yourselves and your businesses. As always, we love learning more about Asian-owned (& other POC-owned) brands, businesses, and creators that we can support, so please share your favorites below in the comments!
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month! May this celebration and support of our Asian-American communities continue far beyond just this month.
