By Elizabeth Ai

Mile-high hair. Synthesized sounds. Teenage rebellion. As Vietnamese refugees began new lives in the West in the wake of the US/Vietnam war, a generation of youth struggled to adjust on foreign soil. Many of these young people found a community and a new identity in New Wave music, a type of synth-pop called Euro Disco, that became enormously popular throughout the community. New Wave: Rebellion and Reinvention in the Vietnamese Diaspora by Elizabeth Ai celebrates the rebellion, reinvention, and rebirth of joy in this young generation in cultural limbo. Featuring essays from prominent Vietnamese scholars, critics, and stars, New Wave is a love letter to the first generation of Vietnamese punks and rebels who came of age in the 1980s. As the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaches in April 2025, it is more important than ever to highlight the voices of Vietnamese people.

The music of this generation, featuring artists such as Lynda Trang Đài, Trizzie Phương Trinh, and Thái Tài, was a symbol of resistance against both mainstream American culture and traditional Vietnamese expectations for the “1.5 Generation,” refugees who were born in Vietnam but largely raised in the US. New Wave became more than just a genre or a style; it was a powerful statement of identity and a catalyst of a creative counterculture for Vietnamese youth who were grappling with the profound impact of the war while trying to establish their new lives and make their mark around the world.

Featuring rare archival images from New Wave artists, community members, fans, and record labels, the book is a much-needed record of photographs and ephemera that were nearly lost to time. Ai worked with the community to unearth materials that had been hidden away in shoeboxes, scrapbooks, and family archives, and brought them to light in this gorgeous book that is also a visual treasury, a community archive, and an act of historic preservation. New Wave pulls these elements together in a bold, innovative design and layout by Mỹ Linh Triệu Nguyễn, an award-winning, second-generation Chinese Vietnamese American designer who is the founder and creative director of STUDIO LHOOQ.

*Order processing may be slower than usual at this time—thank you in advance for your patience. 

YOU CAN VISIT OUR TEMPORARY SHOP INSIDE THE ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART THROUGH THE END OF 2025!  FREE ADMISSION—FIND US INSIDE THE CALIFORNIA BIENNIAL EXHIBITION.

*YOU CAN CHOOSE "PICKUP" AT CHECKOUT IF YOU PREFER TO PICK UP YOUR ORDER AT PLANT MATERIAL STORE IN SILVER LAKE.  PLEASE ALLOW UP TO A WEEK FOR YOUR ITEMS TO BE READY FOR PICKUP,  YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION NOTE WHEN IT IS READY :) 

We really appreciate you shopping with us.  Below are our general policies.  We do our best to make our customers happy, so if you have a concern please feel free to contact us :)

Shipping

• All shipping time frames are not guaranteed—after we hand your package to the mail service or shipping company, we are unable to control unforeseen delays on their end.
• We ship orders out Mon-Fri, often same day if possible—but please allow 1-8 business days for processing. Most packages are sent via US Postal Service with delivery confirmation.
• TELFAR BAGS may take even longer than the above time frame during this time, up to 2 weeks to process and send out from our office due to high order volumes.  Priority shipments will be processed first, but ALL orders are shipping slower than usual.
• Please make sure your shipping address and contact info are correctly entered at checkout. Unless you specify to us that you want to pay to fully insure your package, we are not liable for loss or damage. Shipping charges are non-refundable.
• US (Domestic) shipping is calculated by order total. Standard shipping usually takes 2-9 business days, depending on destination. Priority and Express options are available at checkout for additional fees.

• TELFAR bag orders have separate shipping fees which are automatically calculated at checkout.  

International Customers

• Customs fees may apply depending on tariff rules in your country. Your country's customs office may in rare cases delay the arrival of your package beyond our control. The customer is responsible for any fees or taxes added by their country's customs office.
• International shipments are sent via US Postal Service and rates are calculated by total order weight in order to best approximate actual charges. 
• First Class International (transit time varies ~7-21 days or longer), limited tracking and no insurance
• Priority International (6-10 business days from shipping date), tracking and limited insurance
• Express International (3-5 days business days from shipping date), tracking and full insurance
• Please keep in mind we are not liable for loss or damage in the mail if you select an option without insurance and tracking.  We recommend insuring and tracking whenever possible.
• If you don't see your country on the shipping options list or have any other special requests on how you'd like us to handle your shipment, just contact us before or at the time of placing your order and we'll do our best to help.   :)
• The US Postal Service will not accept the package if the address is written in a foreign alphabet, so please be sure to check your shipping address as we are unable to verify addresses before we ship and your package may get lost otherwise.

Returns/Exchanges 

Because of the tiny nature of our operation, we apologize for our limited return policy.

• No returns on books, music, artwork and objects, accessories, and general merchandise, aside from defective items. Unworn clothing and shoes bought online may be exchanged or returned within 7 days of receipt, unless otherwise specified.
• Returns are only accepted if you notify us within 7 days of receipt of the item and return it to us within 14 days of the order ship date. Goods must be in perfect unworn/unused condition with all original packaging intact. The customer is responsible for outbound and return shipping costs, which are non-refundable. If store credit is issued, it is valid for one year from the issue date.
• We also cannot accept returns on sale items. Some sale items are the last copy and may have experienced some wear and tear. Discounts take into account for any damage but if you have any questions about the condition of a particular item, please email us.
• If you have any issues receiving your order, including lost packages, you must contact us within 90 days of the shipment date or we may be unable to help.

Thank you in advance for understanding!

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