By: Vikki Zhang, Phuong Ha, Mei Qi
Jannie has always dreamed of being a fashion designer talented enough to impress her idol: her grandmother. So, when she receives the opportunity to attend a high-end fashion school in London, she leaves Shanghai to pursue her passion. However, when she arrives she meets an unintended obstacle: her classmate Jamie.
Will the rest of Jannie's passions have to wilt away to make room for her future fashion career, or will she learn how to make space to nourish all the love budding in her heart?
Shanghai, China
Vikki is an illustrator, artist and founder of kids brand NIANYI年衣, currently living in Shanghai. She was born in China, Jiangsu. She studied traditional Chinese painting when she was a child, and that experience had a fundamental influence on her future artworks. One decision that changed her life and confirmed her idea to be an illustrator is going to MFA program from School of Visual Arts—Illustration as Visual Essay, lead by head Marshall Arisman.
Vikki graduated in 2018 and began building her creative career in New York, at then same time, setting up NIANY年衣 with her partner in 2018. In 2022, sje moved to Shanghai and opened Red Box Illustration Studio, working on branding, packaging, fashion, book covers, children’ books, and toy designs.
She love reading, running, movies, toys, vintage, nature, croissant and coffee.
USA
Phuong Ha has been seen overstaying her welcome in libraries and bookstores across Houston, Texas from an early age. When she wasn’t reading magical books and manga, she was daydreaming about her own adventures. Her obsession with the art of storytelling led her to pursue a B.A. in Literature and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Houston and become a program manager for a local literacy organization. As a literacy advocate, she worked closely with educators to develop strategies on incorporating more writing in the classroom and delivered creative writing programs to over 23,000 kids. Currently, she is the Education and Outreach Manager for Asia Society Texas where she spends her time collaborating with educators and community partners to make cultural studies accessible for all audiences.
USA
Mei Qi is Senior Development Manager at Asia Society Texas, where she supports the mission of providing diverse programs in arts and culture, business and policy, and education that celebrate Asian and Asian Americans. In addition, she coordinates the organization’s internship program and contributes to internal Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion task forces. Previously, she worked in the Business & Policy programs department and led the Young Leaders Institute for high school students during the summer. She graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and subsequently earned a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. Outside of work, Mei haunts her neighborhood library and local bookstores, travels to eat, and has a lot of sports opinions for someone who is terrible at sports.