Meet the 5 ‘Slaysians’ taking on the fashion world: from Bling Empire: New York’s Tina Leung and designers Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung and Laura Kim, to style socialite Ezra J. William
- Bling Empire: New York introduced viewers to the suave ‘Slaysian’ squad, a group of 5 Asian-American fashion icons who aren’t afraid to defy racial bias in the industry
- They all have backgrounds in fashion, from Tina Leung’s work with Valentino, Prada, Chanel, Gucci and Loewe, and Laura Kim’s designs for Oscar de la Renta, to Ezra J. William’s pals like Paris Hilton
They’ve been the “token” Asians, they’ve experienced the “you can’t sit with us” mentality, and they’ve been vocal about facing blatant racial bias.
But through their friendship – and stylish designer wardrobes – Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Tina Leung, Phillip Lim and Ezra J. William have spoken up about the hard truths they’ve faced as Asians. And they’ve done it their way. Wearing Gucci, attending fashion weeks (front row, obvs) and celebrating their wins, the Slaysians were born.
This friendship circle has transformed not only how fashion is worn, but has also changed the way the game is played. Their luxury style, experiences of feeling othered and exposing social justice issues ushered in a pop culture movement across social networks.
Although the Slaysian network continues to grow every day with millions of people identifying themselves as part of the group, there are five originals who bonded over food and the emotional confrontation of representation on TV, per Elle.
Here’s what you need to know about the OG Slaysians …
1. Tina Leung, 40
Leung’s introduction into fashion royalty began when she was out having her hair done in Hong Kong, as previously reported. Her stylist introduced her to his friend Gordon Lam, the associate publisher and creative director of Prestige Magazine. Leung, a lover of fashion, impressed him enough to land a job.