Hey everyone,
I’m excited to share the story behind Pushing Pieces, a journey that began with personal struggles and evolved into a brand dedicated to making a positive impact. As a first-born, first-generation Asian-American, I had to navigate a lot on my own. Let’s be honest: I wasn’t the model student. School never really clicked for me, and I often disappointed my parents by not living up to my potential. I was more interested in socializing and making friends rather than doing homework and getting good grades.
Back in my school days, you could spot me a mile away in my signature bright neon Nike Dri-FIT shirts and shorts, colorful Nike socks, and the iconic Roshe Runs. Since my elementary school had uniforms, I never had the chance to choose what I wanted to wear. My idea of matching clothes was wearing all one brand and not color coordinating. As I moved into seventh and eighth grade, my style evolved from the flashy “hooper drip” to exploring streetwear. Brands like Diamond Supply Co. and The Hundreds, became my new obsession. By high school, I branched out to brands like True Religion, Tommy Hilfiger, and—surprisingly—GAP. I remember getting made fun of for wearing it as they would say it stood for "Gay Asian Person."
Despite not fitting the mold of the stereotypical Asian-American student, I found a purpose to keep my grades up in basketball, which kept my GPA above 2.0. But after quitting halfway through sophomore year due to ego issues and getting benched, I struggled with poor choices and a downward spiral. My academic performance plummeted, my first puppy love ended and I found myself heavier and more lost than ever.
As the years of high school went on, I still felt disconnected from school and started thinking about what came next. Community college became the logical next step, but I realized that traditional paths weren’t for me. I knew I wanted to be my own boss and carve out my own path as an entrepreneur. Then came the pandemic. Remote classes were a game-changer, and though I’m not glad about the global crisis, it gave me the chance to graduate and re-evaluate my future.
Enter 2024. It was then that I received a text from two of my close friends, sparking the idea for Pushing Pieces. Inspired by unreleased Gunna tracks and the phrase “pushin P,” I created a brand name that resonated with me. Pushing Pieces is more than just a clothing line; it’s about pushing and producing products with purpose. The meaningful and ethical way.
The essence of Pushing Pieces is to build a brand that not only brings people together but also inspires those who dream of starting their own business. It’s about creating a community through unique garments and stories that connect us. I’m here to show that if I can overcome my challenges and build something from scratch, you can too.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Here’s to pushing boundaries and making a difference, one piece at a time.
Stay tuned for more updates and stories!