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The Modern Chupa

The Nepalese and Tibetan communities in Jackson Heights mix tradition with modern to keep their heritage alive.

By Lisa Wong Macabasco
Women wear traditional Himalayan gowns called chupas while celebrating a Buddhist holiday in Jackson Heights. Photo by Lisa Wong Macabasco.
Audio, Reportage, Stories | Chupa, Nepalese, Queens, Tibetan, clothing, jackson heights
October 9, 2015

An ancient garment from the Himalayan region has gotten a modern makeover in Queens. One Nepalese immigrant in Jackson Heights has put a twist on the traditional chupa. She’s made a dress for that honors comfort and ease as much as cultural heritage. And she hopes to make life a stitch easier for the women who wear them. Lisa Wong Macabasco reports.

 

 

Lisa Wong Macabasco is a writer and editor living in Jackson Heights, Queens. She is currently the assistant social media editor at Slate. She has worked for Mother Jones, Modern Farmer, San Francisco Bay Guardian, KoreAm, and AsianWeek, and was formerly editor in chief of Hyphen Magazine. She is a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

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