Gemma Chan Used the Crazy Rich Asians Red Carpet to Showcase Asian Design Talent

But the rest of the cast isn't necessarily obligated to do so.

August 16, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians Premiere Red Carpet Fashion

British Chinese beauty Gemma Chan plays socialite Astrid Leong-Teo in the highly anticipated film Crazy Rich Asians. Her lavish on-screen lifestyle was so over-the-top that even her costumes required their own security.

While she's not walking around the movie set with a bodyguard for her clothes, the actress does have impeccable style worth celebrating. She regularly walks the red carpet in show-stopping looks, from a mesmerizing bright blue dress by Nepalese-American or a floral confection created by Japanese designer Kenzō Takada, but her pieces as of late have been particularly thoughtful. While the cast was heavily criticized for not supporting Asian designers with The Hollywood Reporter noting they mostly wore brands like Tom Ford, Reem Acra and Giorgio Armani on the premiere's red carpet, that isn't the case for Chan.

Scroll through her Instagram feed and you'll notice that she's consistently showcased the work of Asian design talent. In fact, Chan was one of the only cast members who wore an Asian designer's piece to the premiere, choosing a glittery metallic dress from Oscar de la Renta, where Korean-born Laura Kim serves as CEO.

That's not to say the Crazy Rich Asians cast is obligated to wear Asian designers; as Vox points out, we shouldn't put pressure on non-white actors to showcase designers of color, as if diversifying the red carpet is solely their responsibility. The entire industry could stand to support more non-white designers, but only non-white actors are questioned about it. At the same time, it is great to see an accomplished actress use their platform to support designers of color, many of whom are denied visibility and opportunity in the fashion industry. And Gemma Chan is doing just that.

Click through to see the pieces she's worn so far on the Crazy Rich Asians promo run.

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Philadelphia
A stylish nod to better representation at the Crazy Rich Asians Philadelphia premiere: The actress mentioned she was honored to wear this intricate white blouse designed by Oscar de la Renta, where Korean designer Laura Kim serves as creative director. And Gemma's simple hoops are the work of LA-based Korean American jeweler Anita Ko.
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Los Angeles
Gemma's dazzling Oscar de la Renta dress left quite the impression on fashion critics at the movie's L.A. premiere, not least because it showcased a designer of Asian descent: Laura Kim, the creative director of the fashion house. Additionally, her matching silver sandals are the work of Jimmy Choo, headed by British Chinese Creative Director Sandra Choi.

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New York
For the Big Apple, she slipped into something more laid-back courtesy of Paris-based designer Joseph Altuzarra. The innovator known for his fashion-forward ready-to-wear collections was raised by his Chinese-American mother, as noted on Chan's Instagram.
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Los Angeles
The breezy summer vibes continued as the actress made an appearance at The IMDB Show in a striped sleeveless dress from Hanako Maeda, a designer born in Tokyo and raised in New York. According to Chan, Maeda often draws inspiration from both of her hometowns for her designs.