Meet Sofia Shen | a digital pilgrim

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sofia Shen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sofia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The concept behind our brand, LOWSH, emerged from a series of conversations I had with my business partner, whom I co-founded the brand with. We both reflected on objects that held meaning in our lives. For me, it was a stuffed animal that I took to boarding school, traveled with over the years, and still keep by my bedside in New York. Our reflections led us to recognize the bond between a possessor and their possession. These objects are far more than mere material things, they are vessels of narratives, keepers of memories, and conductors of emotions.

With this insight, we launched LOWSH with a pop-up exhibition featuring objects from our grandparents and even older generations. Each object was cast in either wax or jade to convey deeper meanings through materiality. Wax, like a flickering candle, symbolizes the fleeting nature of time, while jade represents eternity and the enduring memories we carry with us. The two materials allowed us to explore the relationships we have with the objects in our lives and how they transcend their physical form.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was born as a curious kid.
Throughout my whimsical childhood and not so long adulthood,
I stayed this way.
I always seek for meaning in life,
meaning behind everything,
even meaning behind the word meaning itself.
Born in Hangzhou China,
raised in Vancouver Canada,
within a traditional asian family where most of my family members are successful business leaders.
Growing up in such an environment, I felt like an outsider,
I never felt a sense of belonging.
Unlike my family who make decisions based on thorough analysis and reasonings,
I perceive the world with little logic,
mainly feelings;
scattered feelings that are too complex to be spoken.
I write down my weird thoughts,
I sketch down my perceptions,
I photograph little things in life.
It was through these artistic expressions where I found a glimpse of the meaning that I look for.
I see art not just an expression but a form of dialogue,
aiming to connect on a personal and communal level.
This approach reflects my ambition to redefine art as a medium that bridges thoughts,
emotions,
and experiences,
making every creation a point of connection.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This might sound a little weird, but I would want my friend to experience New York as I see it—the highs and the lows, the beauty and the chaos. To start, the subway is a must. There aren’t many places where you can see rats the size of rabbits and fearless cockroaches darting about with no apparent destination. After surviving this traumatic experience, we’d recover with a trip to Murray’s Bagels for warm, comforting bagels. Then, we’d walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, ideally timed with a breathtaking sunset.

Next, I’d take them to Governor’s Island via ferry. It’s the perfect escape—lying on the grass, gazing at the sky, and enjoying a peaceful moment just a few miles away from the city’s relentless chaos. Another favorite spot of mine is near the High Line, where there’s a seating area above a busy intersection, surrounded by glass. Sitting there with headphones on, watching the movement of cars, people, and time from above, is strangely calming and reflective.

To wrap up the trip, we’d head to I SODI, a cozy restaurant in the West Village, for what I consider to be the best lasagna in the city. It’s the perfect way to end a week of exploring New York in all its gritty, chaotic, and utterly magical glory.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The name of our brand, LOWSH, is inspired by a Chinese poem called Lou Shi Ming, which beautifully expresses that the worth of an object is not measured by its price but by the happiness it brings to its possessor.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout this journey. We are truly thankful for the love and encouragement from our community, and we’re incredibly honored that our designs have resonated with so many talented creatives.

Website: https://buymecheesecake.com/

Instagram: personal: sofiashen_ brand: lowshofficial

Image Credits
models in photos: @rub1carrillo, @carlamenendezmoreno