88rising Brings AAPI Celebration to the West Coast in LA
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88rising is set to bring its Night Market Neighborhood event to Los Angeles this weekend at Guess Jeans Campus. The all-weekend event will feature outdoor films, food stalls, mahjong and celebrating the vibrant AAPI food and arts community.

88rising, a powerhouse in elevating AAPI music talent globally, is shifting its spotlight to celebrate the local AAPI food and arts scene this weekend. The agency, widely recognized for launching and amplifying the careers of groundbreaking AAPI musicians, is now extending its influence to support local artisans and businesses. This event will feature a range of artisanal goods and unique food vendors, creating a platform for AAPI creators who, much like the 88rising roster of music artists, are breaking barriers and redefining their industries.

Key Vendors to Catch

DAWANG: Launched in 2018 by Chinese-born designer Daisy Wang, DAWANG blends traditional chinoiserie with Western streetwear. As Wang explained, “I wanted to marry traditional chinoiserie apparel and Chinese fabrics with Western tailoring techniques and trends to make something that represented a journey that ties together so many of us: the journey of coming to America and making space for ourselves”. The nuance in her designs emerges from a comprehensive approach—drawing from a variety of inspirations, deeply understanding them, and then skillfully paying homage in each piece. Her brand has gained attention in ID Magazine, Nylon, and Vogue for its fresh and innovative approach.

Mahjong Mistress: Known for their media-covered, community-centered mahjong parties, Mahjong Mistress brings Asian heritage into the L.A. social scene. The Mahjong Mistress team has built their events through an incredible amount of community support, leaning heavily on “calling in favors” from friends and connections in Los Angeles. They pull together talent across music, photography, and DJ services without formal funding, depending on their network to bring each event to life. This grassroots, community-driven approach has become a hallmark of their gatherings, allowing them to host memorable and culturally rich events despite financial constraints. They hope to attract sponsors in the future to expand without compromising their community-focused ethos.

Didi (film screening): Directed by Sean Wang, Didi has become a celebrated work in indie cinema and the AAPI creative community. This coming-of-age film, praised for redefining the cultural dimensions of the genre, follows Chris—a shy, Taiwanese-American boy—through a transformative summer as he navigates friendship, family, and cultural identity. Set in Fremont, California, the film draws from Wang’s own adolescence, capturing Chris’ struggle to balance his real-life insecurities with an emerging online persona. Didi is Wang’s feature-length debut following his Oscar-nominated short, Nai Nai & Wai Po. The film highlights both universal themes of growing up and culturally specific experiences of Asian American youth. Time Out notes that Wang “gets all the details hilariously, palm-sweatingly right.”

You can find more information regarding 88rising Night Market Neighborhood here!

Words: Alex Lam // Imagery: 88rising & Rachel Deng


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