Globe Trotting with Grace Ban

You’re what some would call fashion literate. Could you give us a bit more background on what you do and how you’ve really carved a space for yourself doing what you love?

I’m a digital consultant and content creator for independent brands. I worked in-house and managed social media for Bergdorf Goodman for a few years and moved on to manage social for Vogue after that.

I became a consultant after I moved back to Taiwan since it allowed for a more flexible schedule so the time difference wouldn’t get in the way of working with brands based in LA and NY. I had originally intended on becoming a buyer for Bergdorfs but since I was very proactive about growing my personal Instagram for fun, it unintentionally paved my career path in the digital space.

Though I love helping brands with digital storytelling, I’ve been gradually shifting my focus back to growing my own personal brand—I’m currently on a mission to showcase what Taiwan has to offer (and put it on the radar as a travel destination) since it’s seriously underrated!

How did your childhood shape your relationship with the outdoors?

There was never much emphasis in my childhood household to embrace nature or pursue outdoor activities. I honestly never had the time! Between a full schedule of classes every school year and an equally overwhelming student orchestra, band, and chorus rehearsal calendar, I spent most of my time indoors.

Ironically, my parents loved being outside. They would go on small hikes and take long walks along the tree-lined trails around our neighborhood at least twice a day, something I’d love to do nowadays but don’t have the luxury to.

So, you spent time in California, NYC, and now Taiwan. What are some of the major cultural differences that you would say are most apparent between these spaces?

I would say the biggest difference between California and New York is the amount of freedom you’re granted to explore your own identity. Personally, I always felt the need to conform when I lived in CA and it was exhausting to continuously, and unsuccessfully, try to fit into some socially acceptable mold that I just couldn’t fit into.

I didn’t have any friends growing up who could share and/or accept all of my interests so I ended up having many acquaintances and friends from various circles who shared specific interests with me but no close friends who I felt like could accept me in entirety, if that makes sense.

I really found myself in NY and I owe that in part to the friends and support system I found there—I had finally found my chosen family who loved me for me and I had never felt more at ease. They encouraged me to embrace who I really am and I really thrived and came into my own.

The self awareness, confidence, and perspective I developed in NY can be taken with me anywhere. Taiwan, I would say, is more like CA than NY in respect to conformity but the other side of that coin in Taiwan is that people care a lot about community and family and that has helped us immensely during the pandemic.

The type of individualism that’s so deeply ingrained in the US doesn’t seem to exist here and people look out for each other and generally everyone is willing to make small sacrifices to help the community.

Do you consider yourself an ‘outdoorsy’ person? If you could choose to spend leisure time at a beach location or a city, which would you choose and why?

When I lived in CA, I would only want to go to a metropolitan city to spend vacation because I craved the mental stimulation. I really took the beaches we had for granted—my university dorm was a 5 minute walk from the beach and just knowing I had such easy access to it made it less appealing for some reason.

I never really considered myself an outdoorsy person per se, but ever since I moved to NY, I’d always have the urge to head somewhere closer to nature to help me ease my mind and feel more grounded. Nowadays, my ideal vacation would probably be a mix of both—a few days of relaxing by the beach or a lake and once I feel more recharged, I’d want to be exploring a new city and learning about a new culture.

What is your idea of #TimeWellSpent?

Any time spent on something that helps you grow and/or heal.

Grace Ban is something of a renaissance woman. Designphile, social expert, and fashion guru, she's got so much variety on her resume you'd wonder when the creative juices ever take a beat.

Read on to discover how this transatlantic transplant makes the most of her time outdoors and the adventures that eventually led her to Taipei.