Art is one of the best forms of self-expression, we have so many ways we appreciate art and the creativity of the students.

One thing about being an artist is sharing your art for others to enjoy, whether that be through social media, music, drawings, tailoring. art is something universal for everyone to enjoy and be a part of.

Students around campus see Jeenu as a fashion icon, Claudia a sophomore states that “He’s always so kind and has a smile on his face every time I see him. His clothes are always on point, and I sometimes get inspiration from him.”

Jeenu James has been making his creative mind into a reality for as long as he can remember. He has been a part of various art shows, cultural clubs, and art classes during his time at school. Not only has he done amazing things inside school, but he also has a self-made fashion brand where he makes cultural and custom clothing. Jeenu James’s talent isn’t limited to only clothes, but jewelry, painting, masks, hats, etc.

Culture is a huge part of what Jeenu makes; he takes inspiration from many different cultures, people, places, music. He connects his culture to how he grew up, living in New York around many different types of people.

Jeenu has always been interested in different cultures. “I feel like even when I was younger, I was interested in other languages, other cultures, other people. I think living in New York and there being so many people made me more interested.”

One of Jeenu’s main goals is to spread the knowledge of other cultures, especially his own, Jeenu has been making his Korean heritage known. While he was growing up, not much was known to the public about being Korean, he wants to wear all these cultural things to help the traditions live on. It gives Jeenu an excuse to talk about his culture when people constantly ask about his outfits. With his carefully sewn Hanboks, His loose fitted coats, along with his stylish sports caps that connect him back to his New York roots. He wants to someday open a tailor shop where he sells traditional clothing for people who may not be able to spend all this money to get imported cultural items rather than modern European tailored clothing.

“Before clothes were mass produced, the people in your community obviously made the clothes for you. the feeling of, you know, something special.”

Clothes made by hand are much more genuine and he wants to bring back the meaning to fashion and culture. It takes a lot of time and research to get these pieces to where they need to be.

He may not be able to make everything perfectly, but he wants to emulate the inspiration for the piece, he appreciates and notices all the work that goes into things; from beginning to end and it really is a beautiful art that should stay alive for many generations to come because “clothes aren’t just clothes.”