Issue 3. NOMI
NOMI + HER SPICY MUSHROOM SAUCE
The first thing I admired about Nomi was her style. Now, having known her throughout our masters program, I can say that there are a million things to admire about her. I always leave a conversation with Nomi feeling like she really listens and cares about what we discuss, and am constantly inspired by the visual world she creates with her work. She’s sweet and silly, while being deeply dedicated to her craft. Throughout our lunch together we discussed her style evolution, her mother’s spicy mushroom sauce, and her incredible tattoo work.
The Outfit
There is comfort in uniformity. Though for Nomi, that wasn’t the case. Originating from Wuhan, China, she grew up dressing in the way she thought she should: feminine and pretty. In many ways, stereotypically appealing to the male gaze. Throughout this time, she found herself often harassed by men which left her feeling uncomfortable and unsafe. During this time, she was a big fan of an anime series called One Piece which featured two female characters who were more than just beautiful - they were adventurous and interesting. She saw in these women a piece of her that she wanted to embody, and started dressing like them. Nomi is not by any means invisible - her dazzling outfits, her intricate makeup, her creativity and outgoing presence make her hard to miss. But when she started dressing this way, she suddenly became invisible to the men that had once harassed her. For 2 years, Nomi wore her anime-inspired outfits, and in that time she wasn’t harassed. One day, when she went to have lunch with her conservative grandparents, she dusted off an old outfit in her wardrobe from her past self. “That was the day my 2 year harassment-free period ended,” she shared with me.
Nomi's outfits remain feminine and pretty, yet now they authentically reflect her identity. I'm captivated by her fashion journey for this very reason; I believe many people can relate to the challenge of breaking free from the confines of the male gaze and discovering a style that truly reflects who they are. For those unfamiliar, here's a brief quote on the male gaze:
“Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. The surveyor of woman in herself is male: the surveyed is female. Thus she turns herself into an object of vision: a sight.”
-John Berger, Ways of Seeing
The Dressing
For her feature, Nomi created her mother’s spicy mushroom sauce. Growing up, her mother would make it for her often and put it on top of bowls of rice, noodles, pork, or beef. “Wuhan is known for its spicy food, '' she shared with me as my throat tickled from the peppers and spices blending together in the hot pan. As I watched her create her sauce, I admired how Nomi is totally Nomi. Her outfits are bold and thoughtful, standing out from the sea of neutrals that fill up London. They’re authentically her, and like her spicy sauce, pack a big punch. Each element of her outfits are interesting on their own, but together create something beautiful and unique. She personifies independence and individuality - She moved here just 2 years ago and in that time successfully started her own tattoo business while completing her masters, and continues to create one-of-a-kind designs and work that inspires those around her.
Nomi’s Spicy Mushroom Sauce
Ingredients:
2 hand fulls of dried Shiitake Mushrooms (soak for 2 hours before use and then chop)
1 Sichuan Pepper (chopped)
2 Chilli Peppers (chopped)
1 White Onion (chopped)
2 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon of Hoisin Sauce
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
1 Tablespoon of Dry Shrimp
2 Star Anise
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine chilli beans, lump sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and hoisin sauce.
Put olive oil on a pan and heat
Add star anise and onions to the hot pan
Add chilli peppers, sichuan peppers, and mushrooms to the pan.
Put sauce mixture from step 1 into the pan and mix
Stir everything together and cook until mushrooms are tender
I would be amiss if I didn’t include some pieces from Nomi’s flash. You can see more of her incredible tattoo work on her instagram here!
Thank’s for reading! Until next time. <3