𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 is a photo-audio series documenting 10 young Asian individuals living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and their stories of migration, told through clothing and accessories. Whether it’s a shirt that your mom wore when she came to Canada or a scarf from your family’s homeland you’ve never been, apparel often live through multiple generations and move across lands, holding an abundance of memories, experiences, and histories. 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 is about uncovering and creating a dynamic preservation of Asian im/migrant stories.
This project is part of Project 40’s Col.lab Incubator program and created by photographer Stephanie Xu and multimedia journalist Izzy Docto, with the support of Project 40’s Community Director Mirae Lee.
* All video recordings featured on this page are conducted and created by Izzy Docto; transcripts of the audio can be found on the main exhibit page.
Christie Carrière
Painter & Visual Artist
Item: “bien fu” or casual shirt and pant set
From: Grandmother; Canton, China
Photo taken: Fika Cafe, Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada
“I really think that material has a human touch, history.”
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Caitlyn Chee
Mixed Race Non-Binary Artist & Activist
Item: “tangzhuang”
From: Grandmother; Hong Kong
Photo taken: Caitlin's home
“Being a trans person, I really liked her style. I can cross the masculine-feminine boundaries by wearing them.”
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Hannia Cheng
Social practitioner at Tea Base & Arts Performer
Item: Guess "sam"
From: Mother; Canada, early 1990's
Photo taken: Essex Junior and Senior Public School
“It’s like I’m wearing something that embodies my mother".”
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CAITLIN 春子 MORISHITA-MIKI 森下三木
Toronto and Tokyo Based Educator
Item: Coat, shoes, and scarf (could be a scarf worn under the obi - belt - of a kimono)
From: Grandparents; Coat and shoes are from Toronto. Scarf is from Wakayama, Japan.
Photo taken: Allan Gardens, Toronto
"This coat is a reminder of my very very Japanese roots…it’s like this weird metaphor for intersectionality”
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Hamza Naim
Student at University of Toronto
Item: “shawar kameez”
From: Father; Pakistan
Photo taken: Harbourfront, Toronto
"My mom’s from Ecuador, my dad’s from Karachi, Pakistan...you get two very different understandings of the world that kind of come together."
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Nam Nguyen
Playwright & Performer
Item: “bộ com-lê” or wool suit
From: Grandfather (ông ngoại); unsure where's it's from but grandfather received it while living in Ottawa
Photo taken: Hart House, University of Toronto
"I think it’s interesting what you wear on the days where you get to pretend it’s all fancy.”
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Nightingale Nguyen
Vietnamese-Canadian Actor, Podcast Host of “Talking With Our Mouths Full,” Co-founder of non-profit organization “Bridging the Gap in Motion”
Item: "áo dài"
From: Aunt; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Photo taken: H&M at Eaton Centre & Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto
“Something more precious can be seen in a piece of cloth over money.”
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NINA SANTIAGO-ESCALANTE
Filipino Multidisciplinary Artist
Item: White blouse; orange-green shirt used as “pambahay” or house clothes; dress or “damit”; customized pants or “pantalon” by Nina’s partner (mixed fabric from grandmother’s skirt and Nina’s cargo pants).
From: Grandmother; Philippines
Photo taken: Nina's home
“Because I know that she once existed in this clothing, I feel her the most when I wear them.”
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Sanchari Suri
Writer & Academic
Item: “shonar aangti” (gold ring in Bengali)
From: Mother; Kolkata, India
Photo taken: Sanchari's home
“It’s almost like the ring didn’t want to be discovered until that time.”
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Florence Yee
Contemporary Artist & Community Organizer
Item: “cheongsam”
From: Maternal Grandmother; possibly Shanghai or Saigon
Photo taken: Tea Base, Chinatown, Toronto
“I think about how I’m taking multiple things from different generations and kind of adapting them together.”
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This exhibition is supported by Canadian Service Corps, TakingITGlobal, and the Government of Canada