Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
August 24, 2021
Born in Canada and based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, costume designer Beverley Huynh said after childhood vacations to California, Hawaii and the Bahamas, her family went on a trip that changed her life. “We were in Vietnam for six weeks and I got to see my parents’ childhood home, met family I didn’t know, and got to connect with my roots,” said Huynh, whose work has been featured on “Van Helsing,” “A Million Little Things” and “Arrow.” “It oddly felt like home. Going to Vietnam felt like I was connecting with a piece of me I felt was missing. That trip changed everything and travel became a part of me that I never want to give up.” See more of Huynh’s work on Instagram and her website.
Q: How have your travels served as inspiration for your work?
A: Traveling enables a way of research that is not available online or in a book. My line of work is very tactile. You absolutely have to get your hands on it to know and feel what to expect. You can’t do that through photos or videos, no matter the quality. Traveling also leads me to connecting with experts and people that I wouldn’t normally or easily have the chance to talk to in my field. An email can easily be ignored, but when you reach out and your intention is to learn and connect in person, it makes a huge difference.
Q: Which pop culture icons do you think are elevating fashion to an art form?
A: I am in love with Harry Styles, Billy Porter, Billie Eilish and Lizzo right now. Main reason is because they give zero (expletive). They’re bending traditional rules, embracing who they are, wearing what they want with confidence and promoting body positivity.
Q: If you had travel plans for 2020 and had to cancel where were they to?
A: I had plans to be in Mexico with some friends (in 2020) and then in summer there were plans to go to Europe. Hoping for that to change soon.
Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A: The best memory is falling asleep on a pebble beach in Nice after an outdoor World Cup party and waking up to the sun rising and a seagull pecking at something near my head. It was funny and terrifying at the same time. The worst was traveling through Southeast Asia by myself, feeling out of place more than I ever had in my life and experiencing reverse racism. I had never been in a place before where I looked like everyone else but couldn’t communicate. I was absolutely berated for it. It felt really lonely at times.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: One spot that holds a really special place in my memory is Lisbon. I highly recommend walking through the main square and finding your way to the artists’ district. There’s an amazing graffiti spot and artisanal area called Alcântara that is filled with delicious food and eye-catching works of art. Eat the seafood, (which) is a must in Portugal.
Q: What untapped destination should people know about?
A: Slovakia. I knew nothing about this place. I had no idea how to spell it. I didn’t even know where on the map it was. Once I got there, it was incredibly magical. The people are wonderful and there are so many great little winding streets to explore. It’s also very close to Austria and Budapest, so you can easily jump to other destinations.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A: Traveling by yourself really gives you a sense of ownership in who you are. You’re entirely reliant on yourself and you learn a lot about how strong you are as a person when you’re put into those situations. I learned that it was OK to eat by myself and that talking to strangers is fun. Ultimately, I learned that most people are inherently good.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: London, Lisbon, Florence, Berlin and Saigon.
Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A: Ireland felt a lot like Vancouver, because of the weather. Slovakia felt a lot like Alberta, because of the greenery and hilltops. Saigon, because I felt connected to my culture and roots.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: South Africa is huge on my list.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: My watercolor travel set, paper and pen. A book. And travel cubes.
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© 2021 JAE-HA KIM
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