My Own Words: Faith Cooper
Asian Fashion Archive and more
Faith Cooper as a young girl in London. Image courtesy of Faith Cooper.
From a young age, I struggled with my multicultural identity, an issue that has weaved its way through my academic and professional journey. Growing up in London and the United States, while raised by a supportive mother with Singaporean roots and a loving American father, I often felt caught between different worlds, always too much or too little to fit into a checkbox. As I grew older, I was weighed down by perspectives that viewed my cultural tapestry in a negative light, especially in environments where diverse representation was minimal. One of my most vivid memories is gazing at my reflection in tears as a young girl, anguished by the thought of my own perceived ugliness, since I did not fit Euro-centric beauty standards. Yet, this personal struggle transitioned into a quest to celebrate and explore Asian fashion, culture, and history.
At nineteen, I moved to New York City, leading me to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology. As an undergraduate student, I completed internships at Vogue, International Condé Nast, the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and Christie’s, as well as served as a college student committee member for The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Upon earning a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Museum Professions, with a minor in Asian Studies, I secured a position at The Museum at FIT, working full-time in the education department.
Eager to advance in the academic fashion space, I pursued a Master’s degree in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice at FIT. While this programme primarily focused on European and American fashion, support from faculty members allowed me to explore Asian fashion and culture. Under the guidance of Dr Yuniya Kawamura, who wrote “The Japanese Revolution in Paris Fashion,” I completed two independent study courses connected to Chinese fashion and orientalism. Additionally, I published related articles for the FIT Fashion History Timeline and the Fashion and Race Database, as well as completed a thesis examining the cultural relationship between China and Western countries through fashion.
Upon reaching my graduation date, my journey took an unforeseen turn with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only was I isolated from my family and friends, I was exposed to a surge in unmasked Asian racism. In addition to hearing disturbing stories in news outlets and from friends, I personally encountered racial slurs and discriminatory acts from people on the street, often met with cold, apathetic responses from bystanders. While these episodes left me in a deep pit of distress, the most profound damage was inflicted by racially charged remarks from people I knew, revealing concealed biases that they now felt emboldened to express. Quarantined alone in my Manhattan studio, isolation and heavy anxiety left me seeking an outlet to process and voice out my emotions.
Image of the Asian Fashion Archive website, 2024. Image courtesy of Faith Cooper.
Driven by these experiences, I created the Asian Fashion Archive, a digital initiative highlighting Asian fashion, culture, and history. Using my personal, academic, and professional experiences, this platform seeks to create a space that celebrates the richness and diversity of Asian identities and cultures, which have too often been overshadowed by Euro-centric narratives. This project was my approach to process negative experiences and battle harmful prejudices through declarations of perseverance and pride, while emphasising education, community, and culture.
“This project has been my approach to process negative experiences and battle harmful prejudices through declarations of perseverance and pride, while emphasising education, community, and culture.”
Image of the Asian Fashion Archive Instagram, 2024. Image courtesy of Faith Cooper.
Through an Instagram account, I curate themes relating to Asian fashion, culture, and history, typically composed of six images per theme. Past themes have reflected diverse creatives, including the Singaporean stage actor Francis Hogan and Filipino fashion designer Salvacion Lim Higgins. I have also featured significant historical moments, such as the 1938 Chinese-American parades and the activism of Princess Sophia Duleep. To find these images, my research process has involved searching digital collections of institutions, such as the Singapore National Heritage Board, the Museum of Art & Photography, the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, and CALISPHERE. Each image and story highlights narratives that have often been overlooked or marginalised.
Image of the Asian Fashion Archive website, 2024. Image courtesy of Faith Cooper.
As engagement with the Instagram account grew, I observed a rising interest in a deeper understanding and awareness of the themes I highlighted, which inspired me to expand the project. In January 2021, I launched the website asianfashionarchive.com, a database that showcases a wide range of resources, including films, exhibitions, podcasts, and publications. Some of my personal favourite resources that are featured include the book Ornamentalism by Anne Anlin Chen, the publication FAR-NEAR, fashion exhibitions curated by Jackie Yoong at the Asian Civilisations Museum, the In the Vitrine podcast series, and fashion history videos produced by the FJU Chinese Textiles and Clothing Culture Center. Additionally, I created a “For Students” section to highlight accessible educational resources on Asian culture, a reflection of my own childhood desire for such materials.
JUST IN XX x National Museum of History “L’Histoire et la Couture” fashion show at Taipei Fashion Week, 2024. Image courtesy of Faith Cooper.
In 2022, I was honoured to be accepted into the Fulbright programme to complete a second Master’s degree in Brand and Fashion Management, focusing on the Asia-Pacific market, at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. This opportunity has allowed me to further immerse myself in the culture and history of both Taiwan and around Asia. Inspired by my complex relationship with cultural identity, my thesis explores how contemporary Taiwanese fashion designers demonstrate cultural expressions through their work. Highlighting designers like Shao Yen Chen (陳劭彥), Kuo Wei (郭瑋) of INF, Justin Chou (周裕穎) of JUST IN XX, Angus Chiang (江奕勳), and Jenn Lee (李維錚), this research reveals not only narratives around Taiwan, but the global fashion landscape.
Living in Taiwan for the past two years has gifted me some of my happiest memories and profound growth. My journey in learning and promoting Asian fashion culture is more than an academic endeavor, but a heartfelt mission to showcase the diversity of Asian identities, while challenging prejudiced perspectives and promoting a more inclusive understanding of fashion. For my future plans, I hope to continue this quest and join others with shared values, working together to convey the power of representation and celebrate our cultural fabrics.
About the Writer
Faith Cooper is the creator of the Asian Fashion Archive. She graduated from FIT, studying art and fashion history. Under the Fulbright programme, she is researching Taiwanese fashion and cultural identity at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. To learn more or connect with Faith, please visit her website.