17 Brands to Support for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — and Always

Mo Mi, short for Modern Minerals, is haircare that not only is vegan and cruelty-free, but it looks good on your vanity. Founder Diane Read credits her heritage with helping her source the plant-based ingredients that make up the line.

Buy It! Cleansing Essentials, $24; momibeauty.com

Co-founder Jen Tsay wanted to make it easier to pair pro photographers with people looking to book shoots, so she helped launch this site in 2018. Users can book a 30-minute session for free with a freelance photographer that posts up in one location that day, and only pay for the photos they want to keep.

Buy It! Shoott photos, starting at $15 per photo; shoott.com

Alicia Sandve launched her elegantly trendy jewelry line during the pandemic with the intention of giving back ($1 from each purchase goes to women-focused initiatives) — but a full $10 from the purchase these Fifth Ave earrings goes towards anti-Asian-hate initiatives.

Buy It! Fifth Ave earrings, $49; heymaeve.com

Designer Virginia Sin crafts simple and beautiful ceramics (including the curvey, coiled candlesticks seen here) out of her Brooklyn studio. The chic designs shoppable on her site — and now available at West Elm — are still refreshingly affordable considering her pieces have been acquired by museums and a set of plates she designed is used in one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world, Eleven Madison Park.

Buy It! Uni Candlestick (center); $38; virginiasin.com

There is definitely a doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist, teacher or vet in your life who'd love one of the cheeky enamel pins or jewelry charms created by Dr. Lynna Van Merkey, the dentist who decided everyone's scrubs needed a little cheeky style. 

Buy It! V Coterie enamel pins, $10 and up; vcoterie.com

This Korean American-owned Instagram shop sells vintage and secondhand goods sourced from all over. Scroll through and find unique and delightful pieces, ranging from donut pitchers to cute seashell catchalls. While being a dedicated small business owner, founder Jennifer Kang also uses her platform to speak on issues that affect the AAPI community. "I definitely lose a few followers every time I post about yet another hate crime, but it's important to me to use my small platform of around 5K followers to spread as much awareness as I can," Kang tells PEOPLE.

Buy it! Prices vary per item; @dreamhaus_vintage

This fashion brand embraces slow fashion and strives to create beautiful yet thoughtful and lasting designs. Founder Sandra C. Kim has designed for fashion brands Edun and Alice + Olivia before launching her own brand of luxury handmade knit bags. Each item is knit to order so you know you are receiving a truly one-of-a-kind piece you can treasure forever.

Buy it! The Nomi Bag, $400; mikcardnas.com

When New York Times beauty writer Bee Shapiro became pregnant with her daughter, she was surprised to find a dearth of clean fragrance products, so she launched her own. The collection has expanded to include 12 scents across perfume, body care and home fragrance categories (and they're all as pretty as this).

Buy It! Myth eau de parfum, $100; sephora.com

Founder Jessica Tsang created her brand in 2020 with a desire to share colorful and cute candles that are meant to bring moments of happiness into your space. Tsang not only uplifts other small businesses, but she also donates 15 percent of her profits to local animal rescues and uses upcycled packaging to send off her whimsical creations.

Buy it! Prices vary per item; @studiosukoon

This luxe hair and skincare line originated in Japan, but its paraben and sulfate-free formulations are only available in the States. Their hair shampoo and conditioner — made from natural ingredients including rice bran and spring water — has a cult following and is made for all hair types and textures.

Buy It! Komenuka Bijin hair shampoo, $32; komenukabijin.co

Longtime friends Eunice Byun and Dave Nguyen were inspired to found this stylish and functional kitchenware line after cooking in tiny NYC apartments, but their products will make any space more efficient. They launched with a set of three essential knives and a sleek magnetic block, but now offer everything from slim, colorful cutting boards to minimalist dishware. Their stainless-steel, copper core Coated Pan (seen here) is easily the hardest worker in the kitchen and truly doesn't stick!

Buy It! The Coated Pan, $95; materialkitchen.com

Sustainably made (out of recycled water bottles), celeb-loved (Aubrey Plaza, Nina Dobrev and Olivia Munn are fans) and founded by two Taiwanese-American sisters, Avre is the ultimate feel-good shoe — both because you're supporting women, the AAPI community and the environment when you buy a pair, and because they're super comfy.

Buy It! Avre Infinity Glide, $145; avrelife.com