In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, Panda Express and iconic fashion designer Phillip Lim are teaming up! Lim’s brand 3.1 Phillip Lim will launch a limited-edition apparel collection, “Eat More, Share More, Love More,” to help battle food insecurity. In Asian cultures, love is often expressed through food, and the collaboration will bring to light the issue of food insecurity in the AAPI community, meant to uplift those in need by providing access to nutritious food. Starting on May 10, this special collection will be available for order here with 100 percent of the net proceeds donated to local organizations focused on food security, including Heart of Dinner, More Than a Meal, OCA-Greater Houston, Radical Family Farms, Respect Your Elders, and Welcome to Chinatown.
Panda Express has donated $20,000 to the GoFundMe page to kick off the fundraising efforts. This collaboration is one of the many initiatives that the two powerhouses have championed and participated in over the years, such as the Panda CommUnity Fund and, most recently, #StopAsianHate.
“As we continue to combat hate and fight for representation, we must also balance this out with nourishment and love. Food is the best way to bring people together. Bring bread to a table, and you can create an instant community. Across cultures and throughout history, food is the universal love language. Through the simple act of sharing a meal, we give each other the space to experience humanity in its quintessence,” said Phillip Lim.
Food is a big part of the multi-generational experience in the AAPI communities. The design of the apparel collection centers around an Asian-style plate as an homage to tradition and cultural appreciation, with the circular shape representing unity during divisive times like we are currently in.
“We are proud to be spotlighting our community partners and collaborating with Phillip Lim, a powerhouse for AAPI advocacy, on an initiative that’s anchored in the power of food and its ability to bring healing and togetherness,” said Andrea Cherng, Chief Brand Officer at Panda Express. “The beauty of what we get to do every day at Panda is bridging cultures and providing care through food, and this collaboration is an extension of that mission as well as an invitation for all to come to the table, to see past labels, and to hear and help those in need.”
Panda’s partnership and fundraising initiative is part of their concerted efforts to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to uplift diverse voices and organizations. In 2021, Panda launched the Panda CommUnity Fund, a $10 million investment program that supports unity and belonging. The Fund has donated more than $2.3 million to nonprofit organizations to support and fund BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.
To see how you can donate and be a part of this movement, click here and check out the limited-edition apparel! Make sure you follow @officialpandaexpress and @31philliplim on Instagram to stay updated.
