House of Jaya Journal

Just so you know, I’m on a mission to empower those with dual identities through fashion while supporting underserved communities. Why am I doing this?  In my 25 years as an educator, it took me 14 years to finally write a curriculum for people who looked like me.  So….why did it take so long? In my own education, I never studied or read books about my culture. In fact, I was 1000 times more knowledgeable about British literature than any other type of literature throughout my entire life as a student!  Fast forward to the year 2000 when I became...

“I felt a dissonance that I could not yet articulate, a tear in what W.E.B. DuBois called the ‘double consciousness’ of race, not knowing how to meld my distinct identities.” - Prachi Gupta, They Called Us Exceptional Many of the first generation immigrants currently living in the diaspora came in search of a new life, aiming to settle down and build homes and communities for their families. They brought pieces of their homeland with them, whether in the form of spices, games, or clothing. It is always a brave and daunting journey to leave everyone you know behind to come...

Identity is not fixed, but fluid, constantly evolving and shaped by our experiences.—Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake Welcome to House of Jaya, a celebration of fusion, a love letter to our heritage, and a testament to the dynamic spirit of South Asian American women. This journey began with a simple truth: authentic representation is difficult. In the midst of endless scrolling through countless online stores,  I found my purpose—to create a convenient and curated space for women like you and me to discover clothing that mirrors our beautiful, dual and hybrid identities. As a South Asian American teacher, I guide my...