By Wameng Moua | Hmong Today
Published Sunday, April 01, 2007
Flip through the pages of the new magazine, 18XEEM, and it’s apparent the Hmong have moved into a new millennia. If the creator of 18XEEM, Hlee Xiong, has anything to say about it, this new age for the Hmong will include professionalism and sophistication as two pillars on which it will stand.
Presented in high gloss, images in 18XEEM jump out in vivid, symmetrical colors throughout the magazine. Like intricate designs on a Hmong tapestry, the smallest details are etched on each page to make the magazine a unique visual experience.
Slated to be nationally distributed on a quarterly basis (once every three months) in areas populated by Hmong, 18XEEM will initially have a circulation of 12,000 copies. The cover price per edition will be $3.00, which Xiong priced to “barely” cover printing and distribution costs.
“I hope to one day make a living off the magazine, but for now I’m doing it because of my passion for the Hmong community and the need to share this beautiful culture with the rest of the world,” Xiong explains.
Xiong points to the very first article in 18XEEM which details a timeline of Hmong history highlighting the origins of the culture. The importance of this article, Xiong informs, is to educate readers about elements of the Hmong that may not be known by too many people.
The magazine goes on to focus on a more modern snapshot of the Hmong, featuring personalities, events and lifestyles.
The entire magazine is framed by detailed close-ups of various tapestries and jewelry, which is emphasizes throughout the magazine, “Because Hmong fashions are one of the elements unique to our culture.”
Acting as the lead writer, photographer and designer, Xiong showcases her many talents throughout the magazine.
Soon to graduate from four years of studying design at the prestigious College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Xiong is adamant on making 18XEEM a success, both culturally and financially.
“This magazine is my priority and reflects everything I’ve learned in school and from designing since I was 12-years-old,” Xiong explains while also adding that she is personally funding the project from her own pockets. “It’s something I truly believe in.”
While finishing her schooling, Xiong has been hard at work on publishing the magazine. She is currently working on finding advertisers to help fund the operations. As a national publication, she is hoping to find corporate advertisers who wish to reach the wider Hmong population.
One other important element of the magazine is the website, www.18xeem.com, which Xiong designed herself. Employing cutting edge technology, the site features a flash program which unfolds the entire magazine at the click of the mouse.
As the Hmong make advancements in other areas of civic and cultural significance, 18XEEM is one big step towards reaching equality with the rest of civilization.
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