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The Journey 

My name is Kalsang, I was born in Tibet in 1994 to a nomad family. My parents, my three siblings and I fled to India to escape the Chinese Communist Party when I was 8 years old. We spent a few years in Dharamshala, a town in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, that has become a sanctuary for Tibetan refugees to preserve their language and culture under the guidance of His Holiness Dalai Lama. At the age of eleven, we sought asylum and arrived in New York City as a family of 6 including; my parents, Apa and Ama, my big brother and sister, and my younger sister. Our journey led us to settle in the vibrant neighborhoods of Queens and Brooklyn, where I spent the past two decades.During my first decade in the United States, I went by the name FNU, an acronym for First Name Unknown, a designation given to me by the US immigration office due to minor technical paperwork. Despite its bureaucratic origins, FNU became more than just a name—it became an integral part of my identity, accompanying me from middle school through high school and college until I obtained citizenship and was able to change my name.The story behind FNU took on an added significance as I navigate the complexities of self-identity. Raised in a household of devout Buddhists, I took refuge in the teachings of Dharma when faced with challenges and confusion. Buddhism offers profound wisdom on the subject of self-identity, emphasizing the concepts of emptiness and interdependence. The notion that everything in this universe is void of inherent existence, including oneself. And everything and everyone’s existence depends on something else. With that understanding, FNU became more than just a name designator but helped me better understand myself and the world.

SUSTAINABILITY

AT FIRST NAME UNKNOWN WE BELIEVE IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF INTERDEPENDENCE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY PRODUCT WE CREATE

IMPACTS OUR ENVIRONNEMENT. THAT'S WHY WE PRODUCE EACH COLLECTION IN LIMITED QUANTITIES. ENSURING THE RESPECT OF OUR PLANET WHILE MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF EVERY DESIGN.

QUALITY

FIRST NAME UNKNOWN IS DEDICATED TO CRAFTING PIECES THAT REFLECT OUR CORE VALUES. QUALITY IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. WE METICULOUSLY TRANSLATE OUR CREATIVITY INTO PRODUCTS. ENSURING EACH PIECE IS MADE WITH THE UTMOST CARE AND SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP.

CREATIVITY

CREATIVITY THRIVES IN AN OPEN MIND AND A COMPASSIONATE HEART. AT FIRST NAME UNKNOWN. WE ARE COMMITED TO FOSTERING THIS CREATIVE SPIRIT. WE CHERISH COLLABORATION AND STRIVE TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF FELLOW ARTISTS AND ENTHUSIASTS. TOGETHER. WE CREATE SOMeTHING TRULY SPECIAL. WITHOUT YOU. THERE IS NO US.

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SUSTAINABILITY

AT FIRST NAME UNKNOWN WE BELIEVE IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF INTERDEPENDENCE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY PRODUCT WE CREATE

IMPACTS OUR ENVIRONNEMENT. THAT'S WHY WE PRODUCE EACH COLLECTION IN LIMITED QUANTITIES. ENSURING THE RESPECT OF OUR PLANET WHILE MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF EVERY DESIGN.

CREATIVITY

CREATIVITY THRIVES IN AN OPEN MIND AND A COMPASSIONATE HEART. AT FIRST NAME UNKNOWN. WE ARE COMMITED TO FOSTERING THIS CREATIVE SPIRIT. WE CHERISH COLLABORATION AND STRIVE TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF FELLOW ARTISTS AND ENTHUSIASTS. TOGETHER. WE CREATE SOMeTHING TRULY SPECIAL. WITHOUT YOU. THERE IS NO US.

QUALITY

FIRST NAME UNKNOWN IS DEDICATED TO CRAFTING PIECES THAT REFLECT OUR CORE VALUES. QUALITY IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. WE METICULOUSLY TRANSLATE OUR CREATIVITY INTO PRODUCTS. ENSURING EACH PIECE IS MADE WITH THE UTMOST CARE AND SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP.

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