Hill Tribe Fusion

Hill Tribe Fusion brings the concept of traditional and contemporary bright-colored, Hmong-inspired clothing to the fashion runway—from blended Lolita to Victorian and modern Japanese anime streetwear styles.

The Thao sisters, Mang and Shang, got their start selling jewelry at Japanese anime expos. Anime enthusiasts attracted to their Hmong outfits, visited the sisters’ display table only to ask what anime character they were dressed as. Mused by curiosity, it helped the sisters sell jewelry. The two sisters soon realized that selling jewelry wasn’t practical either, so they took a leap of faith. In 2012, Mang showcased her first anime fashion run, displaying a collection of a mixture of traditional and modern Japanese streetwear.