How We Turn First-Gen Nostalgia Into Designs 🎨✨
At 1st Generation SF, every product we create is more than just a design—it’s a story, a memory, and a celebration of the first-gen experience. From childhood nostalgia to cultural traditions, we take everyday moments and transform them into wearable art and meaningful home goods. But how do we bring these ideas to life? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our creative process!
🖌️ It Starts with a Story
Growing up first-gen, we experienced moments that were uniquely ours—from hearing our grandparents call us by our Cantonese family titles (Jie Jie, Dai Dai, Yeh Yeh, Mah Mah), to laughing at the universal understanding of what happened when you misbehaved (hello, feather duster!).
These memories fuel our creativity, inspiring designs that resonate with our community and bring a sense of warmth, humor, and connection.
🎨 Bringing Our Vision to Life: Sketching & Designing
Once we settle on an idea, we bring in sketch artists to help us visualize each design. Every detail matters, especially for our Chinese zodiac collection—we wanted each animal to reflect its personality while staying true to its cultural roots.
🐉 Zodiac Animals – Each one is carefully designed to capture its symbolic meaning while adding a modern, playful twist.
🧧 Family Titles – We make sure every Jie Jie, Mui Mui, and Yeh Yeh tee honors family bonds in a fun, stylish way.
🦁 Cultural Symbols – Whether it’s lion dances, Lunar New Year motifs, or nostalgic references, we infuse our designs with meaningful details that reflect our heritage.
We work through multiple sketches, colors, and refinements until we land on something that truly represents the heart of the story we want to tell.
👕 Turning Designs Into Products
Once our illustrations are finalized, we carefully select materials to bring them to life in the best way possible.
✔ Soft, high-quality fabric – Our tees and onesies are comfortable, durable, and perfect for everyday wear.
✔ Bold, vibrant prints – We ensure our colors pop and last, so the designs stay crisp over time.
✔ Eco-friendly, long-lasting materials – Our home goods, like doormats and stickers, are built to look good and withstand daily use.
From start to finish, we make sure every product is a piece of our story, designed with authenticity, creativity, and cultural pride.
💛 Why We Do It
At 1st Generation SF, we want our designs to do more than just look good—we want them to spark memories, start conversations, and create a sense of belonging. Whether it’s through a nostalgic tee, a fun sticker, or a heartfelt gift, we love celebrating the first-gen experience in a way that feels fresh, modern, and deeply personal.
Thank you for being part of our journey! Every order, tag, and message reminds us why we started this brand in the first place—to honor where we come from and bring our community together.
🛍 Shop our latest designs now: www.1stGenerationSF.com
📸 Tag @1stgenerationsf to show how you wear your story!