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Gia Kuan

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Gia Kuan (Chinese: 關歆; born September 23, 1986) is a New Zealand-Taiwanese entrepreneur, publicist and creative consultant, known for her new wave approach to public relations, as well as the intersection between art and fashion in her work.[1] She is the founder of Gia Kuan Consulting, a boutique communications and public relations agency located in Manhattan, New York City.[2] New York Magazine has called Kuan a "downtown press maven".[3]

Early life and education

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Kuan was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and raised between Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Auckland, New Zealand.[4] After high school, she moved to Australia and studied Law, Communications and Art History at the University of Melbourne.[5][6] During her time at Trinity College, Kuan juggled various jobs, including a promoter, hostess and an events organizer for nightclubs. She later attributed her communications and events management approach to her formative training in nightlife.[7][8] In 2010, Kuan moved to New York and graduated with a second degree in Fashion Marketing at Parsons the New School for Design.

Career

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Kuan began her career in New York at Comme des Garcons, Dover Street Market, and public relations agency Nadine Johnson, heading the Arts and Culture department. In 2019, she became independent and established her namesake consultancy.[9]

Kuan is recognized for her impact on the fashion industry, through her firm's representation of independent designers and democratization of fashion shows.[10] Kuan has cited that she is heavily influenced by underground subcultures in her various upbringings,[11] her work largely emphasizes on identity, gender and diversity representation in brands.[1]

Kuan's portfolio includes her work with Liberian-American designer Telfar Clemens, Puppets and Puppets by artist Carly Mark, PRISCAVera, Fear of God by Jerry Lorenzo, and Barragan, and Kim Shui.[5]

Kuan has been noted as a key figure shaping the fashion scene in New York City, through her approachability and unconventional ways of storytelling.[6]

New York Magazine described Kuan as "Taking Over The NYC Fashion and Art Scene".[7] She was dubbed by Document Journal as "New York's star publicist" and the "PR powerhouse behind New York's fashion renaissance".[6][12]

In 2020, Kuan was featured as one of the new wave of fashion PR professionals in Vogue's September issue, with subject matters focusing on industry advocacy and change.[13]

In 2020, Kuan was spotlighted in Wallet Magazine's cover story, which also featured conversations with Pierre Rougier, the founder of PR Consulting.[14][15]

Personal life

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In 2019, Kuan was included in PAPER Predictions, Paper magazine's annual list of 100 influential people taking over the creative scene.[16]

In 2019, Kuan also co-founded the New York-based art gallery Whaam! alongside her long-time partner Anatoly Kirichenko.[17]

In her personal life, Kuan is known for her bold fashion style,[18][19][20] hair colors[21] and nail art.[22] She currently lives in Manhattan, New York.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fashion PR maven Gia Kuan on being human and giving underrepresented brands a voice. | Klarna US". www.klarna.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  2. ^ Nguyen, Andrew (2021-04-30). "The Rising Publicist Helping to Shape Fashion PR". The Cut. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  3. ^ Dukovic, Pari (2020-03-04). "1 P.M. at La Grenouille". The Cut. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  4. ^ Romero, Connie Wang, Lenne Chai, Yukiko Tajima at See Management using Redken, Yuui Vision, Beth Pakradooni, Michelle Li, Vero. "Meet The People Making NYC's Downtown Exciting Again". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b "STP: Gia Kuan". Lindsey Malia Okubo. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  6. ^ a b c "Gia Kuan, the PR powerhouse behind New York's fashion renaissance". Document Journal. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  7. ^ a b Cut, the (2021-01-22). "The Melbourne Club Kid Taking Over The NYC Fashion and Art Scene". The Cut. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  8. ^ "Gia Kuan - ODDA 16". ODDA Magazine. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  9. ^ Hernandez, Jasmin (2019-01-26). "In Conversation with Gia Kuan: An Art and Fashion Forward Thinker in New York". Gallery Gurls. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  10. ^ "Here's What It's Really Like Producing a Fashion Show". Teen Vogue. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  11. ^ Yu, Eda (2021-05-19). "New York's Asian American creatives on the beauty and resilience of their community". i-D. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  12. ^ "Gia Kuan's guide to making it through NYFW without losing your mind—or your phone". Document Journal. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  13. ^ "Nate Hinton, Cynthia Leung, and Gia Kuan on the Present and Future of Fashion PR". Vogue. 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  14. ^ Magazine, Wallet (2020-03-11). "What will the future of fashion advertising look like?". i-D. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  15. ^ "Issues - Wallet". www.wallet-mag.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  16. ^ "100 People Taking Over 2019". PAPER. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  17. ^ "Art in Incubation: WHAAM! Looks at Work Produced Under Quarantine". www.culturedmag.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  18. ^ "Best Fashion Instagrams of the Week: Nicki Minaj, Grimes, Miley Cyrus, and More". Vogue. 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  19. ^ "Gia Kuan". Coveteur: Inside Closets, Fashion, Beauty, Health, and Travel. 2015-10-30. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  20. ^ "Fashion Week's Coolest Street Style Stars Are Behind-the-Scenes". Vogue. 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  21. ^ "Meet the DIY Hair Star Behind Instagram's Most Fearless Dye Jobs". Vogue. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  22. ^ Chan, Mi-Anne. "I Got A 3-Hour Japanese Manicure For $300". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
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