Guest 15: PJ Aurellano

In the third and final episode of the three part episode series surrounding Parsons graduate friends, I chatted with THE PJ Aurellano. PJ was born in Hawaii; he was raised in a Filipino household, but also grew up around indigenous Hawaiian culture, and the melting-pot culture called “local." PJ pursued his college education in New York City at Parsons the New School for Design, and he now resides in Brooklyn. Some of his designs were featured in an online magazine and at Saks Fifth Avenue. PJ then worked in the NY fashion industry in different roles and levels. He is currently building his own brand, Palm of Venus; PJ hopes it will become a platform of ethical business practices, mentorship, and a support system for young creatives. PJ is surrounded by people with different ethnic backgrounds, culture, sexual orientations, genders, and religious affiliations; he believes that this environment promotes important dialogues and teachable moments. He values diversity because his experiences become enriched, and then his enrichment becomes his inspiration.