We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hanwei Su a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Hanwei, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience stems deeply from embracing my dual identity—as a modern Chinese woman and a designer who straddles two cultures. Growing up surrounded by China’s rich heritage, where resilience was often born from necessity and struggle, taught me the power of persistence and adaptability. Drawing inspiration from the humble yet strong spirit of China’s peasant history—the symbolism of the “hoe,” a tool of survival and transformation—I learned that true resilience involves both strength and humility.
Moving to New York and immersing myself in its fearless creativity taught me another dimension of resilience—boldness, courage, and an unyielding pursuit of innovation. Here, I’ve found strength in celebrating femininity, breaking barriers, and redefining narratives that once limited me.
My resilience, therefore, is a fusion of tradition and modernity, struggle and empowerment, deeply personal yet universally relatable. It’s the foundation upon which I’ve built MAISON DE HOE—not merely as a brand, but as a testament to every individual who transforms challenges into sources of strength.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am VV Hanwei Su, Chief Designer and Creative Director of MAISON DE HOE, a fashion house born from the powerful intersection of my dual identities—being a contemporary Chinese designer and a woman navigating the modern world. At MAISON DE HOE, we fuse China’s resilient heritage and peasant-era grunge aesthetics with the boldness and unapologetic strength of contemporary femininity.
Our brand isn’t just about fashion; it’s a bold narrative of empowerment and cultural reclamation. The word “Hoe,” once symbolic of humble agricultural tools, has been reinvented as a powerful emblem of strength and feminine empowerment. We create designs that turn the mundane into magnificent, transforming everyday inspirations into high-fashion statements. Every collection embodies this duality, resonating deeply with individuals seeking identity, narrative, and community in their style.
What makes MAISON DE HOE special is our commitment to sustainable craftsmanship and global excellence. Each garment is meticulously crafted in our New York atelier, combining precise tailoring with materials sourced from Asia’s finest textile traditions—China, Japan, and Korea. Sustainability is at our core.
Since our launch in 2023, the brand has gained remarkable international recognition, gracing esteemed fashion platforms like New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, and appearing in global publications such as Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Grazia. Our journey has been thrilling, seeing our brand narrative resonate with global audiences, bridging cultural gaps, and empowering women worldwide.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about expanding our sustainable collections and community initiatives. We recently introduced limited-edition drops utilizing deadstock fabrics and recycled materials, highlighting our dedication to responsible fashion. MAISON DE HOE is not just about wearing a piece of clothing—it’s about wearing a powerful story of heritage, strength, and innovative elegance.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Cultural Literacy & Storytelling
Understanding my roots — not just aesthetically but historically and emotionally — has been essential. Being able to transform cultural memory into compelling visual narratives gave MAISON DE HOE its soul. For aspiring creatives: dig deep into your heritage or identity. Read, observe, travel, and listen. Your most powerful stories often come from what’s closest to you.
Resilience & Strategic Adaptability
The fashion world is both glamorous and brutal. There have been moments of rejection, delay, and doubt. What made the difference was being able to pivot without compromising my core vision. For those starting out: don’t romanticize hardship, but embrace iteration. Treat setbacks as data, not defeat.
Technical Mastery & Execution
Creative vision is nothing without execution. From pattern cutting to understanding materials to communicating clearly with production teams, technical skill is what brings imagination to life. My advice: invest in your craft. Whether it’s through formal education or hands-on learning, mastery earns respect — and freedom.
Ultimately, success in this field isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about clarity of purpose, the discipline to build it, and the courage to keep refining it.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
In my experience, going all in on your strengths is not just a smart strategy — it’s essential in standing out. The creative world doesn’t reward balance; it rewards clarity and distinction. Trying to be well-rounded often dilutes what makes you unique.
When I founded MAISON DE HOE, I didn’t try to master every aspect of business, PR, or trend forecasting. What I did focus on was my strength: cultural storytelling through fashion. That singular focus gave the brand its edge — a narrative no one else was telling, grounded in my personal heritage and feminist values. It’s what got us into Paris and New York Fashion Week, and what caught the attention of publications like Vogue and GQ.
That said, I believe in strategic collaboration. I don’t ignore my weaker areas — I delegate, I learn just enough to communicate, and I bring in people who are great at what I’m not. That’s how you build something bigger than yourself.
So my advice: go deep on what you do best — make it your signature. Let your strengths drive your brand or vision. Then, build a smart support system around your blind spots. In the long run, it’s not balance that sets you apart — it’s focus.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maisondehoe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maison.de_hoe/
Image Credits
Grazia Photography: @sarahorbanicphotos
Ebony Magazine: Photographer Martika Avalon – @martika_avalon
Bazar Harper’s Photography: Reinhardt Kenneth @reinhardtkenneth.
BFA: Photographer @bfa @mattborkowski & @alizayuh
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
