Caroline Lin
How did growing up Asian make you feel?
I didn’t move to America until college, and before that, I didn’t think much about the fact that I’m Asian, because growing up, everybody’s Asian. It’s not until I got into college that I started realizing that I was “different”. At the beginning, I was very self-conscious because of my race; I felt like I didn’t fit in. I was nervous to make friends because of the different cultural background that I grew up in.
How do you feel now? What does being part of the AAPI community mean to you?
Now I feel comfortable with who I am. I feel powerful. I’ve learned that being different is a beautiful thing and I’ve learned to appreciate the background that I’m from.
And a very big part of that is being surrounded by my beautiful and powerful AAPI friends. And I think being a part of this community means that we can play a role in changing the narratives and representations, which is a very empowering thing. A big part of being Asian is the experience of consistent invisibility, and being part of the AAPI community gives us the opportunity to change that.
What's a moment recently where you've felt a strong sense of pride?
Recently I’ve been hearing more and more discussions about Asian movies and TV shows. From last year’s Squid Games, to this year’s Everything Everywhere All At Once, and Pachinko, it’s making me proud that there are more and more Asian main characters on big screens and that our culture’s being learned and appreciated.
If you had to recommend someone your favorite AAPI owned restaurant, where would it be and what should they order?
There are so many delicious AAPI owned restaurants here in New York, but I would definitely recommend Somtum Der - it’s a Thai restaurant in East Village and they have the best and most authentic Thai food and if you love spicy, this is the right place for you. I recommend ordering the Papaya Salad, the fried chicken, and the Lamb He’d Kao Kuo.
Who inspires you?
People in New York City. Not only do they inspire me fashion wise, they also inspire me to be who I am and be my unique self.
What are you listening to right now?
Homage - Mild High Club
Locked - Meeka Kates
What She Said - MOSSS
FORMATIONS - Mild Minds
Killing Me - Omar Apollo
Why Don’t You - Cleo Seo
Shuggie - Foxygen
Take 3 - Inner Wave
Are there any AAPI artists or designers you've been eyeing lately?
I’m a big fan of Peter Do and Hyein Seo. And recently I’ve been eyeing the beautiful pieces from RUI.
Artist wise, I will be attending an event that’s hosted by La Prairie in collaboration with digital artist Carla Chan, so I’m super excited about that.
How do you unwind after a particularly long/stressful day?
Relaxing at home - I would put some music on, light a candle, do my skincare routine, journal a little bit, enjoy some alone time.
Any advice you could share for someone struggling with their identity?
I think it’s important to acknowledge that it’s a process that takes time, effort, and learning. So it’s okay to feel the struggle. And it’s also important to surround yourself with empowering AAPI friends, having meaningful conversations about how you feel. And don’t be afraid to tell other people how you feel. A big part of the struggle with identity for the AAPI community is that we’ve been gaslighted into thinking that “we don’t matter” or “our feelings don’t matter”. So to change that we need to speak loud and clear about what we are feeling.
Caroline wears the Oversized Detail Denim Dress in Rinse, and the Carlotta Heel in Noir.
How can people get involved to help their AAPI communities?
A simple and easy way would be to regularly check on your AAPI friends - check in to see how they are doing, send a text to them to show your appreciation to them.
Support your local AAPI owned businesses - restaurants, clothing brands, coffee shops.
Next would be education. There are many accounts on Instagram focusing on AAPI news, ways to donate, and different support groups to join. Learn more about resources that can help with the AAPI communities.
Why do you like supporting Heart of Dinner and their mission?
Food is such a big part of Asian culture. It’s our love language. We greet people by asking “have you had dinner?”, and providing someone food is the greatest way to show love and care. Ever since the pandemic, the Elderly Asian has become a very vulnerable community. By supporting Heart of Dinner, we are showing love and care to the elderly through the warmth of food. It’s an amazing initiative.
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