Hi, I'm Crystal. I am a Hongkonger-Canadian journalist, author and trend forecaster.
I lived in the lush, rainy Pacific Northwest, before moving to Asia to work in media. As a journalist, I cover cultural criticism, and examine the intersection of cultural movements and business trends.
Some memorable instances include the time I infiltrated a K-pop training academy to report on the behind-the-scenes of the industry; navigating the -30 C streets of Ulaanbaatar to report on Mongolia’s burgeoning street style scene; and speaking to students and frontline workers during the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests.
My writing has appeared in The Guardian, Women’s Wear Daily, South China Morning Post, Quartz, Monocle and other media.
My book – Honjok, co-written with American sociologist Francie Healey, is a work of nonfiction that looks into the fascinating rise of South Korea’s solo-lifestyle movement. It launched in the US in Spring 2021, under Welbeck Publishing. International editions are currently available in the U.K., Germany, Spain, Holland, Indonesia, Thailand and other regions; and the China and Vietnam versions will be out soon.
For collaborations and other queries, you can reach me at hi@crystal-tai.com.
(Photo by Huy Truong)