Bao Rings in Lunar New Year at Dover Street Market
The Taiwanese restaurant has launched at Dover Street Market with a little help from its coolest fashion designer friends, including Simone Rocha and SHUSHU/TONG.
The Taiwanese restaurant has launched at Dover Street Market with a little help from its coolest fashion designer friends, including Simone Rocha and SHUSHU/TONG.
Food is a sacred part of any holiday, especially during the New Year. Earthy coin-shaped lentils and juicy sliced sausage are scarfed down in Italy, for wealth and prosperity. In the Southern United States, black-eyed peas, golden cornbread, and collard greens are the meal of choice, and in Spain, it’s customary to eat 12 grapes at midnight. As the Year of the Snake is poised to strike, Taiwanese restaurant Bao has collaborated with fashion designer friends to launch a collection at Dover Street Market sure to bring luck in the Lunar New Year.
With many pieces coming in red or gold — colors considered auspicious to wear — the capsule ranges from jewelry to ready-to-wear. A gold Simone Rocha-designed necklace features a pearl-adorned snake pendant, and ultra-cool emerging brand SHUSHU/TONG whipped up a floral embroidered burgundy headscarf. Internet culture inspired TSTS even got in on the fun, dreaming up a scarlet tanktop printed with bao bun and heart emojis. While seemingly lighthearted, the collection seems particularly poignant given that many of the offerings were designed by Asian creates.
It almost feels self-explanatory to collaborate with Asian talent when celebrating Asian culture. Unfortunately, it’s a mark that’s often missed, with brands hawking Lunar New Year gifts that verge on (or are outright) exploitative money-grabs. Choosing to champion brands with cultural expertise, Dover Street Market makes sure customers can ring in the new year the right way — and sets an example to follow.