Meet Asia Yuyu, the Sex-Positive Designer Spicing up Accessories
“Women and our bodies are always at the center of conversation, from fashion to politics. We can’t escape it.” – Yuyu
Meet emerging designer, Asia Yuyu, the founder of BESUKOH and its sustainable and sex-positive bags that celebrate femme sexuality.
We’ve all witnessed the redundancy of designer bags circulating as “new” drops, often with minuscule updates and the logo being the hype. As a self-proclaimed fashion girlie, Yuyu grew bored of the status quo and decided to spice things up with her own approach.
“Women and our bodies are always at the center of conversation, from fashion to politics. We can’t escape it.”
Besukoh
Besukoh
Designed in California and brought to life in Barcelona, Spain, BESUKOH’s bags are a true labor love – led by Yuyu herself. Inspired by her immigrant father who designed textiles in Los Angeles’ fashion district, the Mexican-American creative was long inspired by the worlds of architecture and craftsmanship.
After completing an internship at Roc Nation, where she worked closely with musicians, she spent time in Mexico City and was completely captivated by the metropolis’ architecture. There, she discovered her edge as a designer. One that would soon set her apart.
Despite being a then, one-woman show, she self-funded an entire line of luxury bags – created from her silhouette. “I am my own muse,” she told me. Dining at Los Angeles’ Mother Tongue, she boldly revealed her latest drop: the RHEA bag, inspired by her boob job.
With sustainability at heart, the RHEA bag features her silhouette with an edgy touch: branded nipple piercings. Slated with the BESUKOH logo, the result is a pair of perky tits made of red Italian leather and sexy suede lining.
Keep reading for our interview with Yuyu as we discuss her sex-positive vision and how she brings its essence to life.
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How did you enter the world of bag-making and design?
My parents let me pick out my own clothes from an early age, and I’ve always loved fashion and being able to express myself through what I wear. As I got older, I became curious about design and architecture, and began to appreciate the intricacies of different cultures, and how they play a role in the approach to design across various societies. I took what I saw in the society I myself live in, and decided I wanted to make bags. Bags play such a huge role in everyday life, and I wanted to be a part of that. I started sketching, did a lot of research, and made countless amounts of samples until I landed on something I loved.
What inspired you to foray into sex-positive accessories?
My inspiration is me. I am my own muse. Women and our bodies are always at the center of conversation, from fashion, to politics. We can’t escape it. We are the source of so much inspiration and controversy. I wanted to highlight that in a cultivated and artistic way.
Initially, my approach was to focus on silhouettes, and the design continued to develop from there. It makes me happy that I can champion silhouettes in a sex positive way through craftsmanship.
What was the first bag you designed? Was it equally as bold or a more tame creation?
My first design was the Y bag, of which we have the YAYA, YEYE, YIYI and YUYU, and each colorway has its own name. It’s definitely more subtle than the Rhea bag. You can still see the soft curves that embody a woman’s essence, but I wanted it to be structured. I love a structured bag that sits up on its own, and can also double as a sculpture.
Ralphy Ramos
Ralphy Ramos
What’s your long-term vision for Besukoh?
In the future, BESUKOH will be expanding to different countries, collaborating with different brands, merging with new technology, and possibly expanding to new products.
This interview has been condensed for clarity.
Shop BESUKOH on its website.
While you’re here, take a look at Tinder x AREA’s NYFW collab.
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