I’m Hong Kong born and Vancouver raised — and since starting my blog in 2008, I’ve been an avid supporter of building community and supporting local businesses.
This month, I had the opportunity to curate an Asian Heritage Month-themed box in partnership with Knix. It’s so exciting to shine a spotlight on creative makers and authors who share my heritage.
Though this special box will only be shared with a select few within the Knix community, anyone can support the talented business owners and creatives who have poured elements of their background and culture into their creations.
We’re fortunate to live in such a diverse community and I’m grateful for the opportunity to show some love to these Asian-owned businesses.
Kami Food
From Montreal, Kami Food was founded by Knix ambassador Mica Peng. Her superfood adaptogens blends — which include Turmeric Glow, Matcha Energy, and Cacao Calm — can be added to oatmeal, lattes, smoothies, yogurts, and desserts.
Make Nice Company
Make Nice Company aims to reduce the world’s consumption of single-use plastic waste with an ultra-concentrated Solid Dish Soap that replaces up to three bottles of traditional dish soap.
All their soaps are 100% natural with vegan ingredients that are paraben-free and palm oil-free, and handmade in small batches in Vancouver. In 2022 alone, they diverted over 35,600 plastic dish soap bottles from landfills.
Three Ships Beauty
Legend has it that the Fountain of Youth was discovered not by some impressive fleet, but just three ships...in other words, great discoveries can be made with limited resources. Taking this concept of simplicity, Three Ships believes that by using simple, naturally-effective skincare, you won’t need a 12-step routine or convoy of complicated products.
Mystic Moon Creations
Fill your space with crystal-inspired creations from Mystic Moon Creations. From handmade jewelry to suncatchers, fill your space with sparkle and good vibes.
Crafted Van
CraftedVan specializes in magnetic bookmarks, magnets, and cards. From sushi characters to bubble tea and pho, all their bookmarks are designed with a smile, and designed to make you smile too.
As they say, their characters cheer you up and always stay where you've last left them. Your new CraftedVan bookmark would be perfect for marking the pages of the three books we’ve included in our Knix Asian Heritage Month box.
…and finally, for your reading enjoyment, we’ve also curated three books by Asian and South Pacific authors.
Two Times Removed: An Anthology of Indo Caribbean Fiction
Two Times Removed brings together a curated collection of 16 short stories written by the new generation of Indo-Caribbean storytellers. Together, these writers explore adolescence, relationships, trauma, family, identity and more, bringing to life the experiences of the modern day Indo-Caribbean.
The Light of Eternal Spring
Amy Hilton, born Wu Aimee in the tiny Chinese village of Eternal Spring, has been living and working as a photographer in New York City for so long she’s started to dream in English.
When, in the fall of 1999 she receives a letter from her sister written in her birth tongue Manchu, she needs to take it to a Chinatown produce vendor to get it translated. And so it is this stranger who tells Amy that her mother has died of a broken heart…
Dear Divya
After a challenging year, Dear Divya follows 14-year-old Anjali Singh who is determined to change her reputation and social status as she enters her first year of high school. As the school year begins, Anjali finds herself having to navigate a new world of having Brown, Black, and Asian friends for the first time, meeting boys, and transitioning from old to new friendships.
With a strict mother watching her closely, and a father who’s distant, Anjali proudly looks to her older sister Amara who is breaking intergenerational rules.
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If you were one of the lucky recipients of Knix’s Asian Heritage Month box, feel free to tag @ModernMixVan as you unbox the gift and enjoy the items inside, I'd love to hear your thoughts!