#sewhmong

[kennyxfashion]

Kitsune: A kitsune, in Japanese folklore, is a fox spirit. The kistune waited a thousand years for her loved one to come back and release her from her stoned form.

Last summer, Linda and I went to Turkey Run State Park in Indiana to do this photo shoot, and boy are we in for an experience! That day was very hot and humid, and Linda and I hauled more stuff than we needed. The park was beautiful with it’s lush greens and rocky bluffs and river canyons. We, however, were not very prepared for that hike and didn’t go far into the park. Luckily for us, there were beautiful scenery for us to be able to capture some shoots before my makeup melted off my face.

[kennyxfashion]

Warrior’s Journey 2017

I absolutely love this photo shoot with Rachel and Linda. I got a chance to set back and watch my clothes come to life on Rachel. Her fit body really portrayed the spirit of a warrior perfectly. Linda did a wonderful job at capturing the details of each piece. 

[kennyxfashion]

A Warrior’s Journey: Fresh Traditions Collection 2016. 

This collection was featured at Fresh Traditions X Fashion Show this November in St. Paul, Minnesota. The collection was inspired by a warrior and her journey to finding herself. It depicts strong warrior that doesn’t having to comprise her femininity. The bead work and embroidery are inspired by the Hmong and Hmong-Chinese designs. It’s a nod to my own culture and identity. Despite her battles, in the end, she’s a survivor and she’s stronger than ever. 

Designer: Keng Xiong of Sew Hmong 

Photographed by Elmo Lee

Makeup Artists: Tang Xiong and Sandy Yang

Hairstylist: Shelah Hang

Models: Michelle Yang, Pasha Chang, Ezra Xiong, Kabao Lo, Jenny Yang, Rose Nguyen, Shengfue Yang, Mina Lavalier 

[kennyxfashion]

A Picture Worth A 1000 Words. 

When I was young, I dreamed of become one of the best Hmong Female film director out there. Though that dream has fallen into the back burner, I realized that through fashion designing and a great help from a wonderful photographer friend, I am still able to tell stories through my clothes. 

photography by Linda Her Vang

Designer: Keng Xiong

[kennyxfashion]

I spent many long hours hunched over my embroidery frame sewing on one bead at a time. Throughout the process, I ask myself, “why do I do this to myself?” Well, I’ll answer that too. It’s because I can see the end result. I know how it’ll look, and it’s going to be amazing. All the hard work and little details matters in the end. 

My love for bead work comes from watching my mother as a child. I remember running my hands through my Mother’s sewing tote of beads and sequins as she would spend hours sewing beads onto the traditional Hmong clothes. 

[kennyxfashion]

Designed by Keng Xiong

Photographed by Jean Ly Yang and Hair by Shelah Hang

Standing in the cold with very little clothes on is my idea of a fun photoshoot, but the results were fantastic! I did had a great time doing this photoshoot with a great friend of mine. The outfit is a start to a series of outfits that I’ll be making in the months to come. I can’t wait to reveal them one by one! The idea is that that one can be elegant and feminine, but be a strong individual at the same time. 

This piece features hand- embroidered cherry blossoms with  gold bead embellishments. 

[kennyxfashion]

The Red Dress and Gold Crown.

Desgin by: Keng Xiong

Photographed by: LINDA HER VANG

"Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”

[kennyxfashion]

The Voices of Change

The voices of Hmong women are changing--slowly, but it is changing. As a child growing up, I felt unequal to my only brother. There were eight girls in my family and I was one of the oldest. I was train to become a homemaker, which required early training from cleaning, cooking and doing paj ntau. My Grandma's favorite line was "Lazy, you guys wouldn't last three days before they send you back!" That was to encourage us to work hard and diligently. I just remember being so resentful to becoming a Hmong Nyab (bride) because that could mean that my freedom would be stripped away from me. I have seen it many times where young Hmong women who had dreams and goals suddenly had to put them aside to serve their family--- That is very selfless of them. I did not want to do that. I did not want to become just a homemaker. I did not want to just serve my family (Which there is nothing wrong with that), but I wanted to keep dreaming because I am a human being with dreams and goals too.

I had a dream at a young age to become a Hmong film director---to improve Hmong movies. My parents were very against me doing such thing because I was a girl. I had dropped out of college and traveled for a couple of years, which my parents were horrified and truly disappointed in me because education is such a highly values and coveted thing within the Hmong culture. However, it was during my times of travels when I realized what I wanted. Today, I am an aspiring fashion designer. That may sounds confusing as to how I ended up in fashion, but I have done it all along. I learned the art of sewing pai natu (flower cloth) at the tender age of 6. I remember vividly watching my mom and my older sisters hunched over and sewing all day long. How did I find that fun? I don't know, but I wanted to learn. My mom made me practice sewing straight lines until I could get it perfect---all the stitches would line up making perfect little x's. After my grandma made me finish my first set of Hmong clothes, I never did it again. I had enough of the tedious cross-stitching at the age of 10. I started making little clothes for my rag dolls and then I started making costumes for our epic home videos. And from there, I started my journey of clothes making.  I designed costumes for our home videos and wanted to have a hand in movie costumes. Although, I never had the chance to do it professionally, I have found a different path for designs.

It was not until I became pregnant with my daughter that I took my sewing more seriously. I wanted to go somewhere with sewing and become good at it. I started designing clothes and practice honing my sewing skills. This year, 2015, has a big push for me, I made a couple mini collections, and did my first runway show. Doing the fashion show was a very inspiring experience for me. It gave me a chance to reach out and meet other Hmong designers, and artists out there in the community that I've become a little detached from since I live in Indiana where there's a very small Hmong population. However, I still have a long way learn and go from here. I am just glad I am doing what I love.

I want to help change the voices of Hmong women. I want to be a part of encouraging Hmong women that we are more than just homemakers. We should not be limited to what our society wants us to become, but more importantly, we should not limit ourselves and our own desires to become better.

[kennyxfashion]

This past weekend I participated in my first fashion show. It was a great experience and I was glad that I got the chance to do it. It was only then, that I realized that I had a lot of learning to do. But regardless, I had a lot of fun putting everything together. I’ve got the chance to meet amazingly talented Hmong artists from models, to photographers and other designers.

My collection is “Butterfly”. It was inspired by a childhood hobby of collection caterpillars and butterflies at my parent’s flower farm. This collection fused my love for butterflies with my Hmong culture. Though it is very subtle, I focused on the the Hmong skirt and the way the pleats flow and move. I mimicked the layers of the skirt and gave it a more ruffled look than the traditional pleats. The movement of the dresses are design to flow like a butterfly--soft and whimsical.

Overall, I was really proud of my collection and wouldn’t have done it any other way.

[kennyxfashion]

Fashion Inspirations

What inspires me as a designer? Well, I like pretty things...I do tend to go for a more feminine look. I like elegant and classy---something more clean and polish. I am inspired my Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana. Those are my two favorite high fashion houses.

As of right now, I am working on a collection inspired by the Hmong culture. I am creating a 8 piece collection inspired by the Hmong clothing designs and the textiles on the Hmong clothes. I want to incorporate the “paj ntaub” or flower cloth design as well as the garment constructions. My goal is not to just create just another modern Hmong clothes line, but to create a line that showcase my idea of modern Hmong designs on western clothes.

[kennyxfashion]

My Blue and Metallic Batik Dress. 2/2015

So the story behind this dress is that I created this piece as an entry piece for a fashion show. My theme for the line was a starry night. I didn't make it in to the fashion show which was very disappointing but hey, I'll try again next year!

Maybe, I'll create a mini collection version of my ideas.