Episode # 112

Asians at (Public) School, with Alan Mak

We’re kicking off a five-episode series that takes a deeper look into what it means to be Asian/Asian-American in this country - looking at the history behind anti-Asian discrimination, but also really talking about what being Asian means for us, and for our guests. Today we talk about all of that, and more, with Sara’s dear old friend Alan Mak, who is the co-founder and CEO of Version Tomorrow as well as the managing partner of the well-known fashion brand Public School.

This is a conversation not to be missed.

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“I’m Chinese descent, but I’m American, just the same. I may not look exactly like you and we may have had cultural differences growing up, but those experiences have made me who I am. That’s a part of me. I think it would be very worthwhile for White Americans to be able to look at things through a lens that has more shades of grey, rather than looking at life in very binary terms of American versus not American, and hence, good versus bad.”
Alan Mak

What to listen for:

What it was like growing up visibly Asian, in a predominantly White community
The story in the NY city restaurant and what it says about White adjacency
What both Misasha and Alan think about as they stand on the sidelines of their kids’ sports games - being one of the only non-White people there
Race consciousness in the fashion industry
What Alan wishes more White people knew about his Asian experience

About Alan Mak

Co-Founder & CEO – Version Tomorrow Managing Partner – Public School Alan Mak is Co-Founder and CEO of Version Tomorrow and Managing Partner of CFDA award winning fashion brand Public School.

With nearly 20 years in the fashion industry, as a founder of multiple apparel brands and managing sourcing and production for numerous Advanced Contemporary fashion brands, Alan is currently transforming supply chains and pushing boundaries in material innovation, sustainability and circularity within the fashion industry.

Alan began his career as an Equity Research Analyst covering the Retail and Ecommerce sectors and was also a Competitive Intelligence Analyst in the Enterprise Software industry. Alan is a graduate of Duke University and his current interests lie at the intersection of fashion, consumer and technology.

IG: @alancmak

About Version Tomorrow

VERSION TOMORROW is the first of its kind ultra-premium basics and “blanks” platform that was built from the ground up with the idea that quality needn’t be sacrificed in order for the product to be sustainable. VERSION TOMORROW makes the highest quality, sustainable basics using our own blend of recycled cotton and organic cotton that enables creators of all kinds to easily make sustainable “merch”. VERSION TOMORROW won the 3.0 CFDA + LEXUS FASHION* INITIATIVE.

About Public School

PUBLIC SCHOOL is a New York story. Founded in 2008, PUBLIC SCHOOL continues to evolve the landscape for menswear and women’s wear. The brand blends high and low references from music, art and culture to create a platform that transcends fashion and promotes the ideas of social consciousness and justice. PUBLIC SCHOOL has received numerous industry accolades including winning the CFDA Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent - Menswear, the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund, the CFDA American Designer of the Year - Menswear, and the International Woolmark Prize.

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