Entrepreneur puts fun spin on Asian-themed clothing at Lychees Gone Wild

By Jane Liaw, Lychees Gone Wild

Lychees Gone Wild (LGW; www.lycheesgonewild.com) is an Asian-themed clothing line founded in 2003 after creator Jane Liaw got the idea to harness the popularity of the ubiquitous cute sloganed T-shirt to express Asian pride. She sat down and made a list of Asian things that she and her friends couldn’t live without (many of them foods, of course), then brainstormed with them to come up with some catchy sayings and snazzy illustrations. And so a small business was born.

The clothes have been a hit with Asians and non-Asians alike, since the appreciation of sushi or Dance Dance Revolution knows no bounds. Some popular designs include “Control your tempura!!” and “May the pho be with you”—who doesn’t like a crispy, fresh-out-of-the-fryer tempura or a hot, fragrant bowl of pho? And who doesn’t want to tell the world about it? There are also designs for underappreciated Asian foods such as stinky tofu and durian, foods that are “acquired tastes,” whose lively aromas linger even after the food itself is history. There are clothes for people who are passionate about mahjong or karaoke or the aforementioned Dance Dance Revolution. Of course, the clothing line would be incomplete without some lychee themes, so there are “Life is like a bowl of lychees” shirts and the LGW dancing lychees logo on shirts and bibs.

Jane named the company in honor of the lychee because it is a fruit most Asians know well and have fond memories of, as well as something with which non-Asian Americans are growing familiar. Lychee martinis have recently become popular in bars all over the country, and lychee flavors are popping up everywhere—there are even lychee farms in Florida (check out the good people of www.lycheesonline.com, for example), making all sorts of lychee products from their crops. The lychee represents all that is good and lovely in Asian culture, and it’s catching on with all those who enjoy delectable tastes.

Lychees Gone Wild uses only high-quality shirts made in the USA, by a company known for its humane non-sweatshop working environment. LGW shirts come in a variety of styles and colors, and in fact, if customers order a dozen or more of a certain item, they can custom choose colors and styles not usually available.

As the company grows, more designs will be added to the repertoire. The LGW gospel has spread quickly by word of mouth and internet presence, and has been featured in a Women’s Wear Daily article on ethnic-themed brands. In the future, Jane hopes to keep promoting Asian culture through Lychees Gone Wild, and to see other brands owned by Asian-Americans, such as Happy Six and Angry Little Girls, thrive as well.

You can visit the site at www.lycheesgonewild.com.

Jane Liaw, the creator and owner of Lychees Gone Wild, is also a writer, editor, and environmental health researcher. She grew up in Singapore and the Bay Area of California, where she currently lives. And she loves fresh juicy lychees.