Female founders’ AAPI beauty box donates to AAPI Women Lead during May

Nine female-founded/ co-founded companies have partnered, offering a Summer Essentials AAPI box celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month this May. $10 from every box sold will be donated to AAPI Women Lead, a movement that aims to strengthen the progressive political and social platforms of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. through the leadership of API women, girls, and gender-expansive communities.

“We wanted to celebrate and show solidarity across the community of AAPI founders,” said Ashley Mariko Meilan Johnson founder of Mohala Eyewear who is of Japanese, Chinese and white descent. “We know that as a group we can make a larger impact and really work towards changing culture to be more inclusive and have more representation in business and media.” Johnson’s Hawaii-based company, Mohala Eyewear, available at Nordstrom, is an inclusive eyewear brand offering three unique nose bridge fits, and each pair purchased sends a girl to school through the Room to Read Girls’ Education Program.

The AAPI collaboration was inspired by Michelle Yeoh winning Best Actress at the Oscars, making her the first Asian performer to win a lead-actress Oscar in the awards show’s 95-year history.

Included in the Summer Essentials AAPI box ($120; $270 value), which will be available for purchase beginning May 1 on mohalaeyewear. com, are: