Left to right: Judi Henderson, Mable Huang, and Dion Lim.
Recently, journalist and author Dion Lim has been speaking about her book, Amplify: My Fight for Asian America, which chronicles her reporting on anti-Asian violence and her advocacy for greater visibility and understanding of the Asian American experience.
During her appearance at the SF Commonwealth Club, she reflected on one of two Lunar New Year headdress-making workshops held at Mannequin Madness in 2022, where participants gathered to create wearable art by hand.
Dion described how joyful the workshop was. People were laughing, creating, connecting, and celebrating together. But after the event ended, she got into her car and unexpectedly broke down in tears. That moment became a turning point for her.
It helped her recognize the emotional toll she had been carrying while reporting on anti-Asian violence and ultimately led her to seek professional support for her mental health. To hear Dion’s reflections firsthand, watch her presentation here. She begins discussing the workshops at the 22:14 minute mark in the video.
The headdress workshop she referred to took place at my company, Mannequin Madness. Hearing her tell that story more than three years later reminded me that what happened in our Oakland showroom was about much more than making headdresses.
The idea for the headdress class began with Mable Huang, who at the time was a program manager for Global Affairs and Strategic partnerships at Airbnb. Mable had hired Mannequin Madness for several Airbnb-sponsored events and was already familiar with the way our flower crown workshop could bring people together.
As anti-Asian attacks were making headlines across the country, Mable wanted to create something positive for the Asian American community during Lunar New Year. She believed creativity could provide an opportunity for people to connect, express themselves, celebrate culture, and experience a little joy during a difficult time.
Mable shared the idea with her friend Dion Lim, the ABC7 journalist whose reporting and advocacy would become a powerful voice for the Asian American community. Although making a headdress is not a traditional Lunar New Year activity, they both thought the novelty of it would be appealing to the participants.
When Mable approached me about hosting the events, I immediately agreed to sponsor them. As an African American woman, I wanted to show my support for the Asian American community. We agreed to sponsor two headdress-making workshops one week apart. Mable and Dion invited most of the guests, and I invited a few allies to join us.
For some participants, it was their first time visiting a Black-owned business that wasn’t food-related, adding another layer of cultural exchange to the experience. At a time when so much attention was focused on fear and division, I wanted to help create a different narrative.
Participants spent the afternoon designing and creating one-of-a-kind wearable-art headdresses using faux flowers and eco-friendly embellishments. Dion arranged to have the event filmed and featured on ABC localish which you can watch here.
Some participants attended with friends, while others came with their daughters, turning the workshops into an opportunity to create memories together as well as headdresses.
Unlike many holiday crafts that are packed away or discarded after a single use, these headdresses were designed to last. Participants left with unique pieces they could wear again and again for celebrations, festivals, performances, photoshoots, or simply as a creative expression of their personality.
The participants weren’t required to create traditional Lunar New Year-themed headdresses. They were encouraged to express themselves and create whatever inspired them. Dion, for example, incorporated a lemon into her design. I said to her that this was symbolic since she was turning lemons into lemonade through her reporting and advocacy.
But the real transformation wasn’t what people made. It was how they felt.
People had arrived reserved, cautious, and emotionally guarded and left laughing, chatting and proudly showing off what they had created. Even the cameraman who filmed the workshop for ABC localish noticed the transformation. He told me he could feel the energy in the room shift from heavy to light.
That shift is one of the reasons we believe so strongly in creative experiences. When people focus on making something together, barriers come down. Despite the face masks and social distancing that were still part of everyday life at the time, the room felt connected, creative, and surprisingly joyful.
Working with your hands has long been associated with reduced stress, increased focus, and a greater sense of well-being. Whether it’s gardening, knitting, woodworking, painting, or creating a headdress, the simple act of making something can help people slow down, become present in the moment, and experience a sense of accomplishment.
Perhaps that’s why creative experiences can be so powerful. The finished piece is important, but the process of creating it often matters just as much.
I’m grateful that Dion Lim saw value in our headdress class and chose to share it with a wider audience. At a time when so many stories focused on fear and division, she helped highlight a moment centered on creativity, connection, and community. We were honored to be a small part of that story.
Visit our website to shop for mannequins and dress forms, rent display pieces, or recycle your old mannequins.
