Gemma Chan spotlights Asian designers on Raya press tour

British star Gemma Chan and #legend magazine cover star (September 2019) has yet again raised up Asian fashion talent, wearing both established and fresh out of university designers to promote her Disney film Raya.

The actress, who plays Namaari in the Southeast Asian fantasy, previously chose to wear exclusively Asian designers over the course of her Crazy Rich Asians press tour such as Huishan Zhang, Jason Wu and Prabal Gurung. 

She told Vogue at the time it was a deliberate choice, as she was “keen to use this opportunity to put a spotlight on Asian creativity.”

Chan reunited with her Hollywood super stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray (who also works with fashion darling Florence Pugh) on several sophisticated looks for the Raya press tour. 

The first look she shared coincided with the lunar new year and also highlighted two Asian-American designers, as she chose a fortuitous red bateau-neckline top and skirt by Adeam accessorised with jewels by Anita Ko.

Her second playful look was courtesy of London-based designer Huishan Zhang, who she has worn frequently in the past. She paired the designer’s red tweed cocktail dress with strappy heels by Jimmy Choo, which is currently helmed by British Asian designer Sandra Choi.

She then took mirror selfies to the next level with a delicate lace set by Central Saint Martin’s graduate Yuhan Wang, whose work has been highlighted by outlets such as Vogue China and W Magazine. 

Sadly, Raya did not have a traditional red carpet this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and instead opted for a virtual premiere last week. For the big day, Chan turned to designer Edeline Lee (who is British, Canadian and Korean) for a chic skirt set, featuring trailing ribbons and a midi hemline. 

It comes as little surprise that she tapped designer of the moment Simone Rocha, who is Chinese-Irish, for her dangling earrings and completed the look with another pair of Jimmy Choo by Sandra Choi heels. 

Chan previously revealed during her Crazy Rich Asians press tour that she and Corbin-Murray decided to channel “the spirit of diversity and inclusivity” through her wardrobe, which appears to have carried through to her Raya outfits.

Chan wasn’t the only actor amongst her Raya cast members to spotlight Asian fashion talent. Lead star Kelly Marie Tran also wore a glamorous ao dai and intricate headdress by Vietnamese-American designer Thai Ngyuen for the film’s virtual premiere. 

Nguyen wrote on Instagram, “As a Vietnamese-American fashion designer who has now been able to dress a Vietnamese leading lady in Hollywood, I can safely say that several dreams have been fulfilled in one.”

Raya and The Last Dragon is out in cinemas now.

See also: #legend September 2019 cover story featuring Gemma Chan