Kiwis, it’s time to set aside our tall poppy syndrome and give a round of applause for Gia Kuan.
Gia Kuan, the founder of Gia Kuan Consulting, is leading a new wave of publicists reshaping New York’s fashion scene. With a focus on independent designers, cultural relevance, and an interdisciplinary approach that fuses fashion, art, and lifestyle, Kuan is making waves globally.
The New Zealand-Taiwanese entrepreneur began her career at industry giants Comme des Garçons, Dover Street Market, and the PR firm Nadine Johnson. In 2019, she launched her own firm, quickly attracting a roster of brands that are driving culture forward, including Telfar, Luar, Puppets and Puppets, Priscavera, and Kim Shui. Her agency’s approach is notably holistic, combining communications, strategic partnerships, and programming to create meaningful cultural connections.
Basically, she’s the fashion publicist everyone wants to befriend during Fashion Week.
It’s one thing to build a reputation for throwing killer parties and having top-tier connections, but what sets Gia Kuan’s rise apart is her ability to navigate the competitive world of fashion and online hype with a rare distinction—she’s famously nice. As her clients have become cultural staples, Kuan has also crafted her own persona as a quintessential New York figure—a brand in her own right. Celebrated by the media as the city’s favourite fashion publicist, it’s no surprise she’s the one everyone wants to befriend.
Kuan is also celebrated as a democratising force in fashion, famously making runway shows accessible to fans and prioritising diversity in the brands she represents. Her influence is expanding the notion of who gets to participate in fashion’s exclusive spaces.
In recognition of her work, Gia Kuan Consulting was named the Art and Culture Agency of the Year at The PR Net Next Gen Awards 2024 and was listed among The Observer’s most powerful PR firms of 2024. New York Magazine described Kuan as “taking over the NYC fashion and art scene,” while Document Journal hailed her as “the PR powerhouse behind New York’s fashion renaissance.”
Kuan’s career continues to redefine the role of a publicist, and she’s undoubtedly cementing her status as a key figure in the global fashion industry and our new fav ‘It Girl’.
Keep up to date with Gia over on her Instagram which is filled with outfit inspo, fashion show BTS and snapshots of her life living in New York.