Samson Chan

Oct 19, 2024 | coldteacollective.com | Zeph Wong |Samson Chan |Pearl Zhou

Recently, CBC Dragon’s Den aired an episode with guest Dragon Simu Liu calling out Quebec-based boba tea company, Bobba, and its founders for engaging in cultural appropriation. This sparked an online firestorm that saw a typical pattern commonplace on social media: both an outpouring of support for Liu’s position and comments, as well as a flood of threats and harassment against Bobba’s founders and other Dragons for their dismissive behaviour during the pitch.

Apr 30, 2024 | coldteacollective.com | Evan-Thomas May |Samson Chan

Get ready with me to dress in Japanese Americana. When thinking about the Japanese fashion scene there are a few different aesthetics that probably come to mind. The experimental and eclectic looks dominate much of the street scene, and the tech-wear obsession that has made its way stateside. Yet, behind these avant-garde expressions, and many other niches within their fashion world, lies a cornerstone: アメトラ (ametora), the embodiment of Japanese Americana. As explained by W.

Feb 22, 2024 | coldteacollective.com | Evan-Thomas May |Samson Chan

More and more Asian fashion influencers are making their mark in North America. It’s a fresh wave of diverse faces and personalities to the scene. From style tip blogs to Instagram and Tiktok accounts, their emergence signifies more than a celebration of representation. It stands as a challenge to the conventional standards of fashion in North America.

Dec 6, 2023 | coldteacollective.com | Evan-Thomas May |Samson Chan

Asian founded streetwear brands once again made noise in 2023 . Labels such as Asia-based Edison Chen’s CLOT, Auralee and ASICS, to Asian American brands such as Brain Dead and Rhude are no longer hidden gems. They are household names within the industry. These Asian founded streetwear brands earned their widespread recognition. They have a common ethos: transcending style and redefining streetwear as a dynamic medium for cross-cultural creative expression.

Nov 6, 2023 | coldteacollective.com | Evan-Thomas May |Samson Chan

Sneaker culture changed in North America. I was once fully immersed in the sneaker industry. In January of 2021, I landed my dream job working at an up-and-coming sneaker startup. Exactly one year later I was laid off. In hindsight, it was probably for the best. I’d realized that sneaker culture here in North America has deviated so far from what it once was. The days of scouring Facebook groups in search of your favorite drop are gone.