The Retail Outlet Supporting the AAPI Community: Chunky Paper
1. Let's kick it off with a brief introduction - who are you, what do you do, and how can people connect with you.
Chunky Paper is an art project & retail outlet. It started with our take on traditional red envelopes, bringing modern, playful design to the format. Very soon, our mission expanded to highlighting art & goods from AAPI makers. Find our stuff at our shop in Chinatown Los Angeles in the historical Hop Louie (Golden Pagoda) building & online at chunkypaper.com.
For all the latest updates and news, follow us on Instagram @chunkypaper
2. For those who do not receive normally red envelopes, could you explain its significance and why it was important for you guys to create Chunky Paper?
Red envelopes are a symbol of good luck, good health, long life, and many other signs of positivity. Traditionally, red envelopes are given to family & friends, most famously given during the Lunar New Year, but are also given during occasions like weddings, birthdays, graduations, grand openings, business meetings, and many other events. They usually contain money within them but in modern times, we believe you can put other gifts within them, like gift cards and stickers.
We created Chunky Paper to bring an artful and fun twist to the styles readily available in the red envelope space. As designers, we wanted to create styles that we wanted to give to friends & family, reuse over longer periods, and even frame. We want to continue to ...push the envelope (haha) in what red envelopes could look like while ensuring that we respect the tradition. From our perspective, we can all use a bit of good fortune any day.
3. In addition to red envelopes, what else does Chunky Paper provide?
As a design studio by trade, Chunky Paper has quickly expanded to offer products made in-studio or by talented AAPI artists and makers. Our current pop-up, “Chunky Paper Gifts,” stocks products from art prints to ceramics to jewelry to artisanal soaps & candles, and more. We believe the AAPI community is so creative and we want the world to know it! Our goal is to highlight AAPI design as much as possible.
We also do custom design work! Although our schedule is fairly packed, we love making custom red envelope designs, artwork, stickers, websites, and other creative work.
4. Chunky Paper has been heavily involved in giving back to the AAPI community. What are a few projects you guys have done and what is currently in the works?
CP is all about the AAPI community! Beyond exclusively stocking AAPI goods in our stores, we’ve had the honor and pleasure to contribute to charitable efforts. We created a fun red envelope capsule for the @createtostophate platform (which donated all proceeds from auctions to Stop AAPI Hate).
Alongside amazing brands & friends in Chinatown, LA, we were involved in a “Stop Asian Hate” charity sale organized by @steep_la. We created our popular “Not Your Model Minority” design for the event! The support and turnout for the event were tremendous, resulting in 2-3 hour lines, and a complete sellout of most donated goods! It was heartwarming to see such strong support for the AAPI community, and we were very proud to participate!
Given the hardships of the past year for AAPI at large, we were fortunate enough to work with amazing artists who offered to donate proceeds from sales of their products on our platform to organizations like @aaldef. Thanks to @aaronkkai & @andy.grieling!!
We’ll continue to donate to charitable organizations fighting for AAPI rights. Ultimately, as long as CP exists, we’ll continue to push the boundaries and perceptions of what AAPI excellence in art and design can look like. Stay tuned!
5. You recently opened your new location and it looks stunning! Could you describe what made you choose this specific location?
Thank you! Chinatown has always been a symbol of pride for both of us. For Julie, it’s always been home, as she was born in Chinatown, right across from our shop location! The history of Chinatowns in America is one of hardship, resilience, and ultimately, to us, it’s a story of ingenuity. When opportunities didn’t exist, the founders created a town of their own where it allowed new and older generations of Asian Americans to survive, grow, and thrive. We’ve always known we wanted to be in Chinatown because of what it represents to us: a welcoming, entrepreneurial, and creative place for Asian Americans.
Our new spot is located in the historic Golden Pagoda (aka Hop Louie) building, one of the earliest to be built in New Chinatown! Its historical significance can’t be understated. In the 1950s, our new location was actually a gift shop, so it was fitting for us to bring this concept back. We truly felt it was the perfect location to hold all the AAPI creative treasures that we wanted to gift to the world.
6. For anyone out there who wants to do what you are doing, what advice can you give?
Love what you do, and spend a lot of time doing it! Easier said than done, we know. Both of us worked for years in companies, going through the daily grind. While we learned so much from those years, we felt creatively unfulfilled. We started Yellow Mascot Studio, our design studio, to allow us to bring out all the creative energy we’d pent up all those years. Starting a creative endeavor is difficult and stressful, but the joy and beauty of doing something you love is completely worth it.
Find support from your inner circle, your friends & family. Welcome constructive criticism but limit negativity. Be brave! Not everything is going to work out, but if you don’t put something out there, you’ll never get the chance to improve or grow.
7. You guys have collaborated with quite a few people. Could you elaborate on what those projects were and how did they come about?
Many of our fun collaborative projects came about through our enthusiasm and support of people’s work. We were honestly surprised by the support and generosity of the creative community. Many joyfully and graciously gave their time to work with us!
One example that comes to mind is our special collaborative project with @sheelaawe which featured two extra special custom red envelope designs for the Lunar New Year. We reached out to her after watching her IG video where she was furiously and joyfully eating food from @prd_la in her car. We wanted to share with her how funny we thought it was and also asked if she had gotten any of the food on her car seats. After chatting a bit on Instagram, we found out that she was actually in Chinatown that same day, shopping for red envelopes— and just like that, we knew it was meant to be and started working together!
We also meet a lot of kind people in our shop, who stop by our shop and we get to chatting. We’re always willing to collaborate and believe in the power of working with people to create wonderful and beautiful things.
What’s important to us is working with nice people! We have fun new collaborations coming down the line so stay tuned!
8. What has been your favorite moment of this entire journey thus far? What are you most looking forward to?
There really have been so many moments that we don’t know where to start, but just experiencing this journey has been wonderful. It’s the most fun we’ve ever had professionally. There’s a lot of understandable stress that comes from owning your own business, but if you’re anything like us, the freedom that comes with it is beyond worth it!
We’re looking forward to growing our team, making new products, and prepping for the next Lunar New Year! But before that, we have fun art shows and events planned! Check us out on Instagram :)
9. Showing up for your community is huge and providing support in various ways is important. However, there are brands out there that aren't so genuine when it comes to supporting the AAPI community. What do you think is the marker for showing up authentically? How can brands do better?
Authenticity often comes down to intent. There’s no wrong or right way to support a community, as long as you do it with good intentions. You won’t satisfy every critic, but as long as you show a willingness to learn and do better, we’re all for it.
We think oftentimes, with larger movements, infighting naturally occurs due to a difference in methodology that serves to weaken the overall message. It’s individuals and organizations that fail to see the larger picture, and at worst, seek to divide those that may become supporters, that serve to perpetuate a problem.
In a time where the AAPI community, full of diverse and beautiful peoples, is being scapegoated and harmed physically & emotionally, it’s important to be at least an ally, and at most an advocate. For us, that means extending a helping hand, lending an ear, and working together toward progress. Every individual has a role, they can play in supporting the AAPI community. Seek knowledge from those who have it, donate to organizations that are putting in the work, and support AAPI creators and businesses!
10. Lastly, self-care and mental wellness are just as important as any other part of the entrepreneurial process. What has been a few self-care activities that have kept you guys going?
One thing we’re trying to do more of is unplugging when we need a break. We’re constantly in front of screens— whether it’s a computer, tablet, or phone, we really do a lot that requires wi-fi. So it’s really important for us to do things like go outside, soak in the sun, travel when we can, support our favorite restaurants, and visit museums. Finding time to relax and be away from our work is what keeps us going, and oftentimes, also brings about inspiration.
We love talking to people about anything and everything and believe that communicating about our experiences and listening to others helps us put everything in perspective, and in turn, free our minds of some of the stresses that come with being an entrepreneur.
