10 AAPI-owned Brands to Shop at Nordstrom

As you probably know by now, Nordstrom is one of my favorite major retailers for all things clothing, shoes, and accessories, but they also offer much more than that (beauty, home, etc!). In February during Black History Month, Nordstrom highlights Black-owned or -founded businesses. AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month is celebrated during May, and for the month, Nordstrom rounded up their AAPI-owned or -founded brands in honor of it. It’s so important to support these brands now and all year long!

I so appreciate being introduced to new brands and sharing them here with you so we can all support them together. One of the best ways we (especially white people) can help redistribute wealth is by shopping at and supporting more businesses owned by minorities, including those owned or founded by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

I rounded up 10 AAPI-owned brands worth shopping at Nordstrom below. I also highlighted some of their products, either items I already use and love or items I’d love to try someday. Shop them all in the widget, and let me know your favorite AAPI-owned brands available at Nordstrom!

READ NEXT: 10 Black-owned Brands to Shop at Nordstrom

10 AAPI-owned Brands to Shop at Nordstrom

1. AG

You may have heard of AG denim before: They have been offering premium denim since 2000! While the prices are on the higher end, you’ll find a plethora of glowing reviews. They just might be worth the splurge if you’ve been wanting to dive into the world of premium denim! These white high rise wide leg jeans with a raw hem are on trend and perfect for the warmer months (and also for those gorgeous winter white looks).

2. Béis

There is no shortage of AAPI-owned or -founded luggage brands: Béis is one of many! I picked this brand in particular because I love how their roller bags include weight limit indicators. Domestic airlines aren’t picky about the weight limit of carry-on bags, but it certainly comes in handy when traveling abroad. Do note that their carry-on bags are likely too big to be carried on international airlines that are generally more strict about bag size and weight. It’s fine for most domestic airlines (the ones that don’t check bags regularly).

3. Boy Smells

The name of this candle brand might turn you off from wanting to own one of their candles, but I own the Slow Burn candle that Boy Smells made in collaboration with Kacey Musgraves (one of my favorite country music artists) and would definitely recommend it if you’re also a fan of Kacey and her song, Slow Burn. Besides that, you’ll love it for its spicy blend of notes that change with each layer as it burns. They offer a bunch of other candle scents as well!

4. CALPAK

CALPAK is another AAPI-owned luggage brand! While they also offer beautiful roller bags, I was particularly drawn to the duffle bag that has amazing reviews. It features tons of pockets and also a luggage sleeve, which I realize is a non-negotiable in my travel bags (love my Longchamp bag but it kills my shoulder when carrying it through airports). It also seems more structured and protective than some other materials, like neoprene. I’m definitely tempted by this one!

6. Comme Des Garçons Play

I’ve admired Comme des Garçons (and its spinoff brand Play) pretty much since I started blogging nearly 10 years ago. Based in Japan, their garments are spendy but appear to be well made, plus I cannot get over that cute lil red heart logo! Is this the year I add one of their signature striped tees to my collection? I can’t decide which color I like best out of the red, light blue, navy blue, and black! Reviews suggest sizing up in their striped tees.

6. Dagne Dover

I’ve mentioned in other posts that I recently ordered a few Dagne Dover bags, and you can also find this brand at Nordstrom! The bags are made of neoprene and are quite durable. I own the Landon carryall bag in large (pictured); I found that it fits a TON of stuff and also fits under most if not all 737 airplane seats on its side (even stuffed full). I was shocked! I also have the Ace fanny pack and Arlo tech organizer. I’ve been considering the Indi bag as a backpack option (it’s designed to be a diaper bag but would obviously not use it for that purpose, I just like that it has a top entry).

7. Mohala Eyewear

If you have trouble finding eyewear that fits your face shape, be sure to check out Mohala Eyewear! I absolutely love that they make eyewear that fits various nose bridges (low, medium, and tall), face widths, and face shapes. All of their lenses are UV-protected and polarized. You know I love a good pair of cateye sunglasses—those acetate translucent frames are adorable!

8. Shiseido

When you think luxury skincare, do you think Shiseido? If not, you should! They offer so many highly-rated skincare and makeup products, including SPF. Their sunscreen products are on the higher end of the sunscreen price scale (it’s comparable to Supergoop in my opinion). I love the idea of their reef-safe SPF 50+ sunscreen stick for face and body! Since it’s not a liquid, you can keep it out of the liquids bag and save that space for other products.

9. TULA Skincare

If you follow a bunch of the more popular bloggers and influencers, you probably know that Tula Skincare is a favorite among that crowd. I haven’t tried it for myself yet but have always been curious to see if it’s worth the hype! I certainly love that the brand was founded by a medical doctor (gastroenterologist) with expertise in women’s health. I especially want to try the acne clearing + correcting gel; I feel like I’m constantly hunting for these types of products to combat the spots I sometimes get during that time of the month.

10. Yensa

Yensa is a natural beauty brand offering a curated selection of cruelty-free makeup products. I was instantly interested in their super serum silk concealer that features anti-aging properties and comes in 10 different skintone shades. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a concealer with so many 5-star reviews!

What are your favorite AAPI-owned brands to shop at Nordstrom? Any products in particular that you love? Let us know in the comments!