Hi, I'm Sia.
Beginning in November, I’ll travel through Thailand, Malaysia, Ethiopia, and Uganda to meet makers and partners and see what’s already being created, understand how creativity and commerce sustain livelihoods in displacement, and begin shaping what Refugee Made will become.
Why I'm Building This
Like many Hmong families in Thai refugee camps during the 70s–90s, my family relied on paj ntaub or story cloths, stitched by my mother, to get by. They were more than textiles; they were income, stability, and a way forward.
Refugee Made was created with this truth in mind: people find ways to provide for their families even in the hardest circumstances. Commerce sustained mine, and I believe it can do the same for many more if given the chance.
What's Ahead
Refugee Made’s first sourcing season is now underway — we’re building the partnerships and collections that define our 2026 launch. The goods we source during this journey will become the starting point for our first offerings: goods chosen for design and usability, each connected to the people and places where they’re made.
As the brand evolves, these discoveries will take shape as collections that reflect different stages of displacement — from goods made during displacement to those created in resettlement or rebuilt at home. However they come together, they’ll share one throughline: products chosen for thoughtful design and modern function, with refugee income creation built in.
How to Stay in the Loop
Storytelling and community building are at the heart of Refugee Made, and I’ll be sharing the journey as it happens: the makers I meet, the products that take shape, and the lessons that come with turning vision into practice.
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