Mimi So Collaborates on Ring Honoring AAPI Month

New York-based designer Mimi So believes in the power of fulfilling your dreams. This concept was the basis for the deeply personal Parsons collection she released in 2022. Now in honor of May’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI), the Chinese-American jeweler teamed up with Vietnamese, French-English heritage American celebrity make-up artist Daniel Martin and American classical pianist Chloe Flower (whose family roots are Korean) for a unique iteration of the Parsons ring.

The paintbrush-motif ring was initially designed with diamond pavè along the handle. A white gold with black enamel version followed earlier this year. For this collaboration, So and Martin painstakingly poured over color swatches and mixed different hues of crimson to achieve the perfect shade. “We chose this particular shade of red because it was the color Daniel used the most on the red-carpet during awards season, given that it represents the strength, passion, and sensuality behind the power of a woman,” So said in an interview with The Zing Report over email.

Martin regularly works with Elisabeth Moss, Priyanka Chopra, Jessica Biel, Nina Dobrev, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, and Meghan Markle.

The two creatives formed a friendship when they worked with Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh before winning that accolade when she attended the 2022 Met Gala. “Daniel was doing Michelle’s make-up for the event, and I had styled Michelle in my jewelry designs. We hit it off instantly and became fast friends,” she added.

Once the design was nailed down, the duo recruited mutual friend and client Flower to help interpret the mood for the campaign. “I’ve always loved the bold red lipstick shades he uses on her,” So said. “Chloe was also a natural connection because we wanted an authentic story of true artists—people who are compassionate and passionate about what they do and how it affects others. Chloe’s mom is a painter, so my Parson’s brush ring resonates closely with our mutual beliefs of nurturing all forms of creative art.” Flower’s work has crossed into popular music, collaborating with artists such as Celine Dion, Timbaland, and Cardi B, who performed at the 2019 Grammys.

The project also allowed them to put passion into another issue dear to the trio, helping the AAPI community. Fifteen percent of sales from the limited-edition ring (which comes in three sizes) will benefit Apex for Youth. This non-profit organization empowers underprivileged Asian and immigrant youth in New York City.

So explained, “Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to follow their dreams, so it was important to me that the Parsons collection play some part in doing just that. In discussing this desire with Daniel, he introduced the idea of Apex for Youth as the beneficiary of a portion of the proceeds of the rings’ sales. The organization operates in our backyard and serves a community to which Daniel, Chloe, and I all belong.”

Select rings are inscribed with the phrase ‘Paint Your Dreams’ on the shank as a reminder that creative goals are within reach. Helping others pursue their goals and passions is at the genesis of the Parsons collection, which chronicles So’s pursuit of her jewelry design career.

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